Department Store

SAN FRANCISCO -- Gap Inc. announced that Patrick Robinson, EVP Gap global design for adult and body, is leaving the company, effective immediately.

“After spending the last three months in New York with the Creative team, I have made the decision to make a change within our Gap Adult design team,” said Pam Wallack, head of the Gap global creative center in New York.

NEW YORK — Apparel retailers across the board experienced strong sales gains in April, thanks in large part to the inclusion of Easter in this year’s reporting period, leading many to raise their quarterly earnings guidance.

MINNEAPOLIS — The 13.1% increase in same-store sales Target reported for April was toward the low end of the company’s projection of an increase in the mid-teens and begs the question whether Walmart’s mid-month launch of a new marketing campaign contributed to the weakness.

NEW YORK —  Consumers took advantage of Easter promotions and helped drive up sales at leading U.S. department stores.

Macy's Inc. reported total sales of $1.924 billion for the four weeks ended April 30, an increase of 10.9% compared with total sales of $1.735 billion in the four weeks ended May 1. The company’s same-store sales were up 10.8%, beating Macy’s guidance for comps to be up between 8% and 9%.

I’m not much of a follower of astrology and the signs of the zodiac, but I do know that 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit on the Chinese calendar.

It seems somehow fortuitous that speed and agility define a year that is all about economic recovery. And retail is moving forward at a rate that, while not exactly hare-like, is at least faster than the proverbial tortoise.

New York City -- Gap said its chief design director, Patrick Robinson, is leaving the company effective immediately. He had been executive VP of Gap Global Design for Adult and Body for four years.

The company said it will conduct a search for a successor.

Pam Wallack, head of the Gap Creative Center, made the decision to oust Robinson and will manage the design teams in the interim.

His departure follows a series of management shuffles and organizational changes aimed at reviving sagging sales of the brand.
 

New York City -- Retailers reported strong April sales that were boosted by the late Easter holiday, which fell on April 24, three weeks later than last year. Same-store sales rose 8.9% at the 25 retailers tracked by Thomson Reuters, compared with expectations for an 8.2% increase. But the good news was tempered as retailers acknowledged that shoppers are under increasing pressure from rising gas prices and other cost increases.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- Sears announced the launch of new jewelry line from designer Zaven Ghanimian. Beginning today, the Zeghani bt Simon collection will be available for purchase at Sears stores nationwide as well as online at www.Sears.com/zeghani.

Ghanimian is the son of famed jeweler Simon G and trained at his father's jewelry business before designing his solo collection.

PASADENA, Calif. -- Disney Store has announced the launch of an exclusive collection from designer Kidada Jones. 

New York City -- Harry & David Holdings, which filed for Chapter 11 in March, asked the court Tuesday for permission to hire a real estate consultant to help close 50 of its 122 stores.

The company seeks approval to hire DJM Realty Services, a subsidiary of the Gordon Brothers Group. The filing said that DJM also could help Harry & David renegotiate leases with landlords for 69 of its other stores