Department Store

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings announced that former UPS executive Raj Penkar is joining the company as SVP and president of the company's supply chain.

In his new role, Penkar will be accountable for all aspects of the company's supply chain, including logistics, warehousing, inventory management and distribution. Prior to joining Sears, Penkar worked at UPS for 24 years and most recently served as president of UPS' customer solutions division.

MOSCOW — Gap Inc. announced that it has opened its first Banana Republic store in Russia through its franchise channel. The company also announced that it will open its first Gap store in Serbia on Friday. This store will represent the company’s 200th franchise store globally.

NEW YORK — The third annual Fashion’s Night Out -- created by Vogue editor Anna Wintour -- kicked off on Thursday, Sept. 8, at 6 p.m. Although the shopping extravaganza has spread to more than 100 U.S. cities as well as select cities abroad, its nexus remains in New York City. More than 1,000 Big Apple merchants and designers are participating in the event, which is the kickoff to the city’s Fashion Week industry gathering.

The prospect of learning how RFID can improve supply chain performance and the bottom line is the focus of the fourth annual RFID Forum to be held Oct. 25 to 26 in Fayetteville, Ark. The event is a creation of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), the University of Arkansas RFID Research Centers and the Voluntary Interindustry Commerce Solutions (VICS) Association.

NEW YORK — Consumers are spending more, but doing so in fewer transactions, according to American Express Business Insights’ most recent Business Insights Spend Sights report.

The study, which examines spending patterns across several key categories, U.S. cities and demographic groups, finds that while economic uncertainty continues to dampen overall consumer confidence, a new pattern of less frequent but measurable splurging has become evident among a range of customer groups in several categories.

SAN FRANCISCO — Docker's announced that is partnering with Alexander Wang, who was named GQ's Best New Menswear Designer in America, and a diverse group of five other influential American menswear designers to unveil a limited-edition collection. Each designer will reinterpret the khaki pant in a modern way, the company reported.

NEW YORK — New York Fashion Week has become more than just an opportunity for top designers to showcase their wares to industry insiders, celebrities and others privileged enough to get inside the tents. Fashion Week has become a chance for designers and retailers to bring the latest trends to the masses. 

NEW YORK — Lord & Taylor unveiled a new concept called Lord & Taylor Home on Friday, at Fashion Center shopping center in Paramus, N.J.  A second location, in Shrewsbury, N.J., is expected to open in several weeks. Lord & Taylor is owned by NRDC Equity Partners, which also owns Canada’s Hudson Bay Co.