Department Store

Sears Holdings is expanding the distribution of two of its iconic brands.   Cleva North America will manufacture vacuum cleaners and floor cleaning accessories under the Kenmore and Kenmore Elite brands. The company will be able to sell the products to retailers around the world.   

When it comes to sticking on budget, millennial parents prefer in-store shopping over digital commerce for back-to-school purchases.   Sixty-five percent of millennial parents believe shopping in-store enables them to more effectively remain within budget goals compared to shopping online, according to a study commissioned by Citi Retail Services. These parents plan to do the majority, 72% on average, of back-to-school shopping in a store rather than online this year.   

Francesca's Holdings Corp. is on the hunt for a new chief merchant.   The apparel retailer announced that Laurie Hummel, executive VP and chief merchandising officer, has left the company. It did not provide a reason for her departure.    Hummel joined Francesca's in November 2015. Previously, she served two years as senior VP and divisional merchandise manager at Kohl’s. Before that, she was with State Stores.   

TJX Companies has taken the wraps off its newest U.S. retail format, Homesense, which debuted at Shopper's World plaza in Framingham, Mass.   The new concept, which TJX has described as a complement to its Home Goods format, has expanded departments for large-scale furniture, lighting and art. It also features new departments, including a general store.  

Wegmans Food Markets is expanding its footprint with a new concept.    In a first for the 101-year-old grocer, Wegmans said it will open a two-level store, at Natick Mall, Natick, Mass., with direct access to the shopping center. The 134,000-sq.-ft. store will be located in a building that formerly housed one of the mall's anchors, J.C. Penney.    

There's a new person running things at Sears Canada.    Brandon Stranzl, executive chairman of Sears Canada has been removed from his day-to-day responsibilities of running the company in order to work on a management bid for the retailer, the Globe & Mail reported. Sears COO Becky Penrice is now leading the chain's executive team.   

The parent company of Hudson's Bay, Lord & Taylor and Saks Fifth Avenue has appointed a 25-year retail veteran as its new finance head.   HBC named Edward Record as CFO, effective August 28, 2017. He succeeds Paul Beesley, who, as previously announced is leaving HBC.   Record joins HBC after more than three years as CFO of J. C. Penney Company. In July, he announced he was stepping down from the company to "pursue other interests."  

The Cato Corp. swung to a loss in the second quarter amid continuing negative sales trends.    The apparel retailer reported a net loss of $0.9 million, or a loss of $0.03 per diluted share, for the quarter ended July 29, compared to net income of $15.9 million, or $.57 per diluted share, for the year ago period.   Sales for the second quarter fell 13% to $205.0 million, down from $236.7 million last year. Same-store sales plunged 14%.