Department Store

SECAUCUS, N.J. -- The Children's Place Retail Stores announced that Susan Riley, EVP finance and administration, is leaving the company. The company said it will eliminate the position of EVP finance and administration and has begun a search for a CFO.

John Taylor, VP finance, will assume the position of interim principal financial dfficer and Bernard McCracken, VP controller, will assume the position of interim principal accounting officer.

York, Pa. -- The Bon-Ton Stores has signed a letter of intent with Simon Property Group for the 135,000-sq.-ft. former Mervyn's facility located in the Southdale Center in Edina, Minn.

Remodeling of the site is expected to begin in March and be completed in November, at which time Bon-Ton will open a new store under its Herberger’s banner.
The new Herberger’s location will bring the total number of Herberger’s stores to six in the Minneapolis/St. Paul market.

Secaucus, N.J. -- The Children's Place Retail Stores said Friday that their executive VP finance and administration Susan Riley is leaving the company. The retailer said it will eliminate the role and look for a CFO.

The children's clothing company said VP finance John Taylor will serve as interim principal financial officer and Bernard McCracken, VP controller, will serve as interim principal accounting officer.

Department stores and shopping centers malls are gaining market share for the first time in three decades, according to consultants Customer Growth Partners, and this month most will report their best annual earnings in years -- if not ever.

“Department stores from Macy’s to Nordstrom, and mall operators from Macerich to Simon, have used the recession not just to cut costs, but to reinvent themselves,” said Craig Johnson, president, Customer Growth Partners, a consulting and research firm serving retail and other consumer industries.

By Katherine Oberle and Monica Sloboda, [email protected], [email protected]

On November 18, 2010, the U.S. Green Building Council announced the long-awaited launch of its newest green building rating system, LEED for Retail. There are two distinct certification tracks available, LEED for Retail: New Construction and LEED for Retail: Commercial Interiors. 

Indianapolis -- MID Retail announced Urban Outfitters has selected MID Advanced Allocation Software to forecast and distribute merchandise for all store locations across its Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and Free People brands. The MID solution was designed to help multi-store, multi-sku retailers increase accuracy, efficiency and profitability. The system includes both pack and size optimization modules for accurate sku-level allocation and replenishment.

PLANO, Texas -- JCPenney has joined forces with teen and tween online community Stardoll.com for the launch of the first-ever, exclusive Stardoll brand of clothing and accessories.  This exciting, new brand will launch in 300 JCPenney stores and on jcp.com for the 2011 back-to-school season.

Stardoll.com is online community for girls that lets them create and dress their own personalized "MeDoll" avatars and use them to interact with other girls. 

SAN FRANCISCO -- Gap said that it has expanded its Gap and Banana Republic online presence to eight additional European countries through its dedicated European e-commerce sites.

Gap debuted the dedicated sites in the United Kingdom in August 2010 and then expanded to include nine additional European countries in October 2010. The newest announcement brings the total reach of it European e-commerce business to 18 countries.