Department Store

By Craig Johnson, Customer Growth Partners   With a third straight year of dismal retail spending, American consumers will generate only a lackluster 3.4% year-over-year increase in holiday sales, well below the 5% pace in 2010 and 2011, according to Customer Growth Partners’ 14th Annual Holiday Forecast.   

Dallas -- UCR Dallas announced that Cabela’s will make its Houston debut with a new 72,000-sq.-ft. store at Interstate 45 and Big League Dreams Parkway in League City, Texas. Cabela’s will join HEB, Kohl’s and Big League Dreams Sports Park at this development.    The new store is slated to open in fall 2015.   

Dallas –- Tuesday Morning Corp. cut its net loss almost in half to $6.23 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2015 from $12 million in the same period the prior fiscal year. Net sales increased 10% to $202.2 million, compared to $183.7 million.    Same-store sales increased 11%. The retailer credited the turnaround phase of its ongoing transformation program for creating the generally encouraging results.  

Canton, Mass. -- Big & tall men's apparel retailer Destination XL Group announced that it has increased its existing asset-based revolving line of credit with Bank of America, N.A. by $25 million to $125 million.     In addition, the company entered into a new agreement with Wells Fargo Capital Finance for a $15 million five-year senior secured second lien term loan.  

When it comes to science and learning, it’s ok to fool around, according to Barnes & Noble.  The nation’s largest retail bookseller and the provider of digital content and educational products is launching a one-of-kind Educational Toys and Games Science Center in select stores nationwide and online. 

Arlington, Texas -- UCR Investment Sales, a division of UCR, announced the sale of Arlington Park Square, a 94,125-sq.-ft. value-add specialty retail center located in Arlington, Texas.   

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. -- Nicole Messer has joined the retail group of Stiles Realty as senior retail associate. In this role, Messer will focus primarily on developing third-party retail leasing and investment sales business in the Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami markets.  

The Bill Blass brand is in for a breath of fresh air with the arrival of celebrated designer Chris Benz as new creative director.

Reporting directly to Stuart Goldblatt,  Bill Blass’ newly appointed president and CEO,  Benz will be responsible for the overall creative direction of the company.

Benz brings to Bill Blass years of experience in the fashion industry, including designing for Mark Jacobs and J.Crew, as well as his own collection CHRIS BENZ, launched in 2007.