Department Store

New York City -- Regulators in South African on Tuesday approved Wal-Mart's 17 billion rand (about $2.4 billion) bid to buy a controlling share of Massmart Holdings Ltd. The Competition Tribunal of South Africa approved the deal on the condition that no job cuts take place for two years. It also requires the merged entity to give employment preference to 503 Massmart employees who lost their jobs.

Leader footwear retailer Brown Shoes Company officially has a new president and CEO following its annual shareholders’ meeting. Diane Sullivan was named to both roles back in January, but the company implemented the change gradually as Sullivan assumed responsibilities from Ronald Fromm, who will continue to serve as chairman of the company best known for its Famous Footwear and Naturalizer store banner.

New York City -- The Tommy Hilfiger Group said Friday that it will begin selling men's clothing in 90 locations of The Bay, a Canadian department store.

Gary Sheinbaum, CEO of Tommy Hilfiger North America, said Canada's "robust economy and increasingly discerning fashion consumers" influenced the decision.

The company described the setup as a "shop-in-shop," encompassing about 500 sq. ft. The shop will open by November.

The company has a similar set-up in the United States with Macy’s.

Warrendale, Pa. -- Teen clothing retailer rue21 posted net income of $9.6 million for the first quarter, compared with $5.8 million. The company boosted its full-year guidance based on its better-than-expected results.

Net sales increased 25.5% to $172.9 million. Same-store sales rose 5.2%.

During the quarter ended April 30, the company opened 39 new stores expanding its total to 677.
 

White Plains, N.Y. -- SRS Real Estate Partners announced Tuesday that Dick’s Sporting Goods has leased 58,750 sq. ft. at “The Source” in White Plains, N.Y.

The Dick’s Sporting Goods lease represents the first step of the redevelopment of the former Fortunoff store, directly adjacent to The Westchester Mall. “The Source” is also occupied by Whole Foods Market, The Cheesecake Factory, Morton’s, Destination Maternity and a planned Raymour & Flanigan.

The new store opened in April.

NEW YORK — Search engine giant Google announced the launch of Google Wallet, a mobile payment service that allows consumers to pay for goods via their smartphones. The application is currently being field-tested in San Francisco and New York, and will be available to consumers in the summer.

NEW YORK — Barneys New York has announced that its e-commerce website, Barneys.com (www.Barneys.com), has introduced international shipping to 90 countries including Canada, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Australia, and China.

According to Barneys, international customers will be able to make payments on Barneys.com in their preferred currency with cost-effective international shipping and handling services.  

New York — Backed by an improving economy, a recent surge in jobs and ten consecutive months of rising retail sales, a broad range of retailers are poised to fill up empty retail spaces over the next 12 to 18 months, according to Colliers International,  the third-largest commercial real estate services company in the world.