Direct To Consumer (DTC)

The Limited is in line to get a new lease on life.    Sycamore Partners has won the auction for the e-commerce business and intellectual property of the bankrupt women's apparel retailer with a bid of $26.8 million, according to Reuters.   

The Tori Richard brand is a staple in Hawaii, but it’s taking steps to expand sales across the continental United States.   A company founded as a women's wear brand 60 years ago in Honolulu, has since become an internationally recognized men's and women's resort wear brand available in its 17 stores and approximately 2,500 wholesale accounts, including in Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom. This breadth contributes to sales that span across the main-land U.S., Latin America, and Asia-Pacific. 

HSN’s feature, “The Beauty Spy,” uses social media to introduce shoppers in the United States to new, emerging and exotic beauty trends. Now it is coming to the small screen.   The program, which can be seen on HSN’s social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and SnapChat, will become a monthly program appearing exclusively on HSN — a move that will deliver a multi-platform experience to viewers.  

Amazon has again raised the stakes in the home shipping war.   Almost a year after raising its free shipping minimum for non-Prime customers from $35 to $50, Amazon subtly announced on its website that it is once again honoring free shipping on orders of $35.  

An inconsistent U.S. marketplace and the sale of one of its business units contributed to lower fourth quarter sales for VF Corp.   The company, whose brands include The North Face and Timberland, reported that its net sales fell 0.1% to of $3.2 billion, for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2016.    Total revenue came in at $3.3 billion, down 0.2%.  

A new company is interested in The Limited.   Sunrise Brands LLC has bid for the bankrupt apparel retailer’s e-commerce business and intellectual property, a move that challenges a $26.3 million offer from private equity firm Sycamore Partners, Reuters said.   

The $500 million sale of online diamond and jewelry retailer Blue Nile has been completed.   The company was acquired by an investor group comprised of Bain Capital Private Equity, Bow Street and Adama Partners for $40.75 per share in cash. The transaction, first announced on Nov. 7, 2016, was approved by shareholders on Feb.2, 2017.  

It’s closing time for MC Sports.   The chain, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Feb. 14, is closing all 66 of its stores across the Midwest. A joint venture between Tiger Capital Group and Great American Group is conducting the going-out-of-business sales, which are now underway.