Department Store

Changes are coming to Christopher & Banks Corp.   On the heels of a 7.8% decrease in its fourth quarter sales, the women’s apparel retailer is launching a new merchandising strategy  that include a bigger focus on fashion over core items.   Christopher & Banks also will review styles on a weekly basis to identify emerging trends and mark down slower-moving products, said interim president and CEO Joel Waller on the company’s quarterly call with analysts.   

The chief marketing officer of J.C. Penney is leaving the company after two years on the job.   Mary Beth West is leaving the department store retailer on March 31 to become senior VP and chief growth officer of the Hershey Co. She will join Hershey on May 1.   West joined Penney in April 2015 after serving on the company’s board of directors for 10 years.   

New leaders are set to take the reins at Pottery Barn and its sister brands.   The company announced that Sandra Stangl, president of Pottery Barn Brands, which includes Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids and PBTeen, is resigning from the company on March 31, 2017, after 23 years of service.  

Neiman Marcus posted another quarter of declines for its second quarter.   For the period ended January 28, 2017, the chain reported total revenues of $1.40 billion, a decrease of 6.1% compared to $1.49 billion for the second quarter of fiscal year 2016. Comparable revenues decreased 6.8%.   

It’s a homecoming of sorts for Mark Breitbard.     Gap Inc. on Tuesday named Breitbard as president and CEO of its struggling Banana Republic division.       Breitbard served as CEO at The Gymboree Corporation from 2013 until he stepped down in early 2017. From 2010 to 2013, he held leadership positions across Gap North America, where he was instrumental in delivering the product-led resurgence of Gap’s North America business.    

The 800,000-sq.-ft. Northwest Mall in Houston, a fixture in the northwest section of town since 1968, will close all interior stores on March 31. Tenants include Champs Sports, Factory Show Warehouse, Royal Tea Café, and the Flame & Sizzle Grill.   Only stores with outdoor entrances will remain in business. These include Thompson Antique Center, Palais Royal, and The College of Healthcare Professionals.  

Weak traffic and unseasonably warm weather impacted Bon-Ton’s earnings for the fourth quarter.   For the period ending January 28, 2017, the department store chain reported net income of $44.7 million, or $2.09 per diluted share. These earnings fell short of analyst estimates by 37 cents.   The chain reported revenue of $900 million for the period, and comparable store sales decreased 4.7%.  

Destination XL is expanding its presence in North America.   The male apparel retailer is opening its first Canadian store in Ajax, Ontario. The 5,028-sq.-ft. location features more than 100 brands and thousands of styles from top designers, including Michael Kors, Polo Ralph Lauren, Buffalo Jeans, Nautica, Levi’s and Cole Haan, as well as exclusive brands, such as Brooks Brothers and Lacoste. Private-label brands Harbor Bay, 28 Degrees, Oak Hill and True Nation, round out the assortment, DXL said.