Department Store

NEW YORK -- AnnTaylor Stores announced that, based upon stronger than anticipated fourth quarter sales, including positive comparable sales at both the Ann Taylor and LOFT brands, the company expects to report top-line and bottom-line results for the fiscal fourth quarter of 2010 that will exceed the current consensus of analyst expectations and be substantially higher than the fourth quarter of 2009.  The company said it also expects to report substantially stronger sales and earnings for fiscal year 2010 over fiscal year 2009.

New York City -- Gap announced a series of changes to help revive its struggling namesake division, which hasn't posted a gain on an annual basis since 2004. The company has tapped the head of its outlet division, Art Peck, to replace Marka Hansen as leader of the Gap brand for North America, effective immediately. Peck is credited with growing the company’s highly-profitable Outlet business for the past three years. He also has been a primary architect of the company’s franchise business and international growth platform.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- Sears Holdings announced that as part of the continuing transformation of the company, Scott Freidheim has been appointed EVP, president Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard.

"Scott is a strong leader who will heighten our focus on our Kenmore, Craftsman and Diehard brands," said Bruce Johnson, interim CEO and president of Sears Holdings. "I believe he will be a tremendous asset to this business as we drive new ideas forward."    

New York City -- The City Council of San Diego repealed strict limits on new retail supercenters Tuesday amid concerns over the cost of a ballot measure forced by a Walmart-led petition drive, the Associated Press reported.

The 7-1 vote came less than two months after the council required retailers such as Walmart to study how so-called "big-box" stores would affect the economy and traffic. Opponents of the measure said it amounted to a ban.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Gap Inc. has announced a series of significant management and organizational changes at Gap brand designed to drive more consistent results in North America and to provide a new and dynamic creative leadership structure that will deliver sustainable global growth. The changes are effective immediately.

In the February issue of Chain Store Age, in our focus on mall-based social media (page 52), we referenced a fourth quarter 2010 study by Alexander Babbage, entitled the “Shopping Center Social Media Benchmark Report.”

Following are more details about the study, which found that “social media tools and networks are making it easier for shopping centers to relay information, interact with customers and generally stay connected.” 

San Francisco -- Gap announced Tuesday that Marka Hansen president of Gap North America, has resigned, effective Feb. 4.

According to Glenn Murphy, Gap chairman and CEO, the decision to change leadership was mutual.

“After several conversations, Marka and I agreed this was the right time for a change in the organization in order to take Gap brand to a new level,” he said.

The apparel retailer said it has identified an internal successor to Hansen, who will be announced in the next day.

North Haven, Conn. -- Purchase, N.Y.-based National Realty & Development Corp. said that RadioShack has opened for business at North Haven Pavilion, located in North Haven, Conn.

Target, Sports Authority and Michaels anchor the 274,000-sq.-ft. center.

RadioShack opened on Jan. 11 and leased a 2,200-sq.-ft. space.