Direct To Consumer (DTC)

Private equity firm Sun Capital Partners plans to accelerate growth of Furniture Factory Outlet following its acquisition of the 36 store chain.

Based in Fort Smith, Ark., Furniture Factory Outlet (FFO Home) operates 36 stores in Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Sun Capital said it acquired the company, billed as a value-oriented home furnishings retailer, from Alpine Investors and believes significant expansion opportunities exist. The company also manufactures bedding under the Comfort Coil and Natural Elements brands.

Cabela’s EVP and Chief Commercial Officer Scott Williams has been elevated to the role of president and given additional responsibilities in a move that positions him to succeed longtime CEO Tommy Millner. 

Williams will continue to report to Millner. Williams will take on additional responsibility for U.S. retail operations and all operations in Canada.

Surpassing $3 billion in annual sales last year was a big deal for Skechers and now CEO Robert Greenberg is banking on the addition of more than 300 new stores to help the company set another sales record in 2016.

Skechers plans to open between 330 and 340 stores this year, projecting it will have a year-end total of 1,650 locations, of which 575 will be company owned. The accelerated pace of expansion is easy to understand given the powerful contribution the company’s physical footprint had on its fourth quarter and full year sales and profit performance.

Cabela’s executive VP and chief commercial officer Scott Williams has been elevated to the role of president and given additional responsibilities in a move that positions him to succeed longtime CEO Tommy Millner.

Williams will continue to report to Millner. Williams will take on additional responsibility for U.S. retail operations and all operations in Canada.

A new study of the retail habits of Generations Y and Z shows that the different age groups differ when it comes to using computers for online purchases versus shopping at brick-and-mortar stores.

A new GfK survey revelaled that Baby Boomers have been slower to adopt the smartphone as a shopping device. But when it comes to making purchases with a desktop or laptop computer, Boomers registered similar levels to Generation Y (40% and 43% respectively), while Gen Z came in at just 32%.

Burberry is going its own way — and it’s not alone. Reflecting the consumer’s demand for instant gratification, the high-end fashion brand is moving to a new system whereby it will show its new collections on the catwalk the same time they are available for sale in the stores — as opposed to six months beforehand, the New York Times reported. Shortly after Burberry’s announcement, designer Tom Ford said he would show both his men’s and women’s fall collections together next September, at the same time as the clothes were available to buy.

Yogasmoga, the made-in-America, Yoga-inspired athletic apparel retailer, is coming home.

The company, which is based in New York City, will open its first Big Apple location this spring. The store, in the NoHo section of downtown Manhattan, marks a continued commitment to expansion for the eco-conscious brand, which opened 10 stores in 2015.

A first-of-it-kinds promotion involving Dick’s Sporting Goods and highlighting the capabilities of the UbeRUSH delivery service vows to have championship T-shirts in the hands of Carolina Panthers or Denver Broncos fans less than two hours after the Super Bowl ends.

Lululemon Athletica will open the first U.S. outpost of the brand’s design incubator “lab” format in downtown Manhattan, in March.

It’s only the second location for the unusual concept. The first, opened in 2009, is in the company’s hometown of Vancouver, British Columbia.

It’s the beginning of a new era at long-suffering American Apparel.

On Friday, the company announced it has emerged from Chapter 11 as a private company after successfully implementing its reorganization plan. The announcement comes days after the Delaware bankruptcy court gave its approval to the plan.