Department Store

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings said that Scott Huckins will join the company as VP and corporate treasurer.

Huckins comes to Sears Holdings from RSC Holdings where he served as VP and treasurer, responsible for global treasury, credit and investor relations activities. 
 

Indianapolis -- Simon Property Group announced that it has acquired 50% of Silver Sands Factory Stores, an outlet shopping destination located in Destin, Florida. Howard Group, developer of the center, will remain 50% owner of the center. Simon will assume primary responsibility of leasing and management duties.

The 465,000-sq.-ft. Silver Sands center is home to over 100 stores including Ann Taylor Factory Store, Coach, Cole Haan, J.Crew, Kenneth Cole, Michael Kors, Nike and Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th.
 

PLANO, Texas -- Ron Johnson, CEO of J.C. Penney, will answer questions from investors at the Piper Jaffray 32nd Annual Consumer Conference in New York City on June 5, 2012.
   
The question and answer session will begin at 8:30 a.m. ET and will be available via live webcast on jcpenney's Investor Relations page at http://ir.jcpenney.com.  Replays of the webcast will be available for up to 90 days after the event.
 

Bensalem, Pa. -- Charming Shoppes reported Friday that net income for the first quarter plummeted 31.7% to $17.8 million, from $26 million in the year-ago period.

Sales dropped 4.6% to $481.3 million, largely due to the shuttering of 157 stores. E-commerce was a strength in the quarter, up 18% over the prior-year period. Same-store sales were flat in the first quarter, including a 1% comparable-store sales increase for Lane Bryant, a 5% comparable-store sales increase for Catherines, and a 3% comparable-store sales decrease for Fashion Bug.

Toronto -- Sears Canada said Friday that it is rolling out a new in-store area called new baby department, located in the Kids Room in 55 Sears Canada stores across the country.

The new baby department in the Kids Room is "organized into five categories that are clearly signed: nursery, travel, activity, feeding and gifting," said Tracy Culleton, VP of The Kids Room at Sears Canada. "The signing also provides all the features and benefits of the product assortment."

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings announced that Sears Canada has filed a Registration Statement on Form 20-F with the U.S. SEC in connection with the company’s previously announced plan to spin-off a portion of its interest in Sears Canada.

NEW YORK — JCPenney has asked a New York Federal court to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the visual merchandising firm Hudson + Broad over the Plexiglass LED square frame used in the chain’s new “Fair and Square” branding campaign, Women’s Wear Daily reported.

New York -- J. Crew Group recorded a boost in first-quarter net income on strong sales. Profits nearly doubled to $30.7 million in the quarter ended April 28, from $16.2 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue grew 23% to $503.5 million, with same-store sales increasing 16%. Store sales were up 26% to $354 million, while direct sales grew 19% to $143.4 million.