Department Store

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.

Secaucus, N.J. — Syms Corp. said Thursday it is mulling selling itself and other strategic alternatives as the company continues to struggle after acquiring Filene’s Basement in 2009.

The off-price retailer, which bought Filene’s out of bankruptcy for $62.4 million in 2Q 2009, said its board is currently evaluating its options. It reported a loss at the end of its fiscal year in February, and losses had widened as of earlier this month.

Toronto, Ontario  — Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group and Toronto-based Calloway Real Estate Investment Trust announced they will develop the first Premium Outlet Center in Canada. 

The center will be located in the Town of Halton Hills, Ontario, just 15 minutes outside of Toronto. Construction is slated to start in spring 2012. 

Chicago — A report released by Chicago-based Jones Lang LaSalle found that the retail sector is edging toward recovery driven by growth in job market, gains in corporate profits and improvements in credit markets.

According to Jones Lang LaSalle’s North America Mid-Year Retail Outlook, the environment is still not without risk as rising fuel costs and a continued weak housing market, coupled with an increasingly volatile global geopolitical climate, continue to slow retail recovery as consumers remain tentatively cautious. 

Chicago — Los Angeles-based Westfield announced that its Westfield Old Orchard shopping destination in Skokie, Ill., has added more new tenants to its offerings.

COLUMBUS, Ohio— DSW Inc. and its largest shareholder, Retail Ventures have completed their previously-announced merger.

Seattle — Nordstrom announced plans to close its Circle Centre store in downtown Indianapolis, Ind.   Opened September 8, 1995, the 216,000-sq.-ft.  location will close to the public at the end of business on July 31, 2011. 

The retailer will continue to operate a nearby location at The Fashion Mall at Keystone, Ind..  It will open  a Nordstrom Rack store at the Shops at Rivers Edge in September.