Department Store

Dubuque, Iowa — A family-owned, fourth-generation fashion retailer located in Dubuque, Iowa, is using state-of-the-art LED lighting.

Graham's Style Store has updated its ambience and added a big dash of sparkle with the help of new lighting from Amerlux.

"Our clothes didn't change, our lighting did," explained Ben Graham of Graham's Style Store. "We redesigned Graham's to entice a whole new generation.”

New York — C. Wonder, which shuttered all its stores and filed Chapter 11 early this year, is getting a second chance—sort of.

Xcel Brands has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the C. Wonder brand from Burch Acquisition LLC. The deal gives Xcel  the rights to thr C. Wonder trademarks, related designs and other intellectual property rights.

 The closing of the acquisition is subject to board approval

Macy's Inc. should split off its real estate holdings into a separate company to maximize shareholder value, Starboard Value hedge fund manager Jeffrey Smith said during an investor presentation, according to several news reports.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Smith said Wednesday it had taken a stake in Macy’s and is pushing the department store chain to spin off some of its real-estate assets.

Schaumburg, Ill. — Woodfield Mall, a Simon-owned and operated center with nearly 300 retail, dining and entertainment options, is adding new stores and updating its interior.

 New retailers added in 2015 include Flight 23 at Footaction, Fly Zone at Kids Foot Locker, rue21 and the first-in-state location for SIX:02.

The center also announced the future addition of ivivva athletica, coming this summer, as well as Zara and Timberland, both scheduled to open this fall.

Seattle — Ever wondered what a 15-story-tall Instagram post would look like? Well, thanks to Nordstrom, the wait is over.

New York — Macy’s is feeling the heat — from an activist investor and Donald Trump.

Activist investor Starboard Value wants the department store giant to follow the example set by such other retailers and Sears Holdings and Hudsons Bay Company and capitalize on its real estate holdings by spinning them off into a new investment vehicle. 

Starboard claims the move would double Macy’s stock value, Fortune reported. For more click here.

Donald Trump contends he doesn’t forget and that could be a bad thing for Macy’s now that polls show the businessman turned politician leading a crowded field of Republican presidential hopefuls and using campaign stops to belittle the department store chain.

San Mateo, Calif. — Online membership shopping service ShopRunner is adding some well-known fashion brands to its mix.

ShopRunner has signed new partnership agreements with Alexis Bittar, Alice + Olivia, Bebe, Joie, Kooba and Lucky Brand.