Direct To Consumer (DTC)

Boohoo, a fast-fashion online retailer based in Manchester, England, is reportedly bidding for bankrupt U.S. retailer Nasty Gal.    Boohoo has filed a petition to incorporate Nasty Gal as part of its business in the United Kingdom, registering the business Nasty Gal Ltd with Companies House, fashionunited.com reported.  

Bentley’s Pet Stuff is on the move.   The family-owned retailer, which specializes in the fast-growing segment of natural pet food, will open nine stores in December, with locations in Milwaukee, Colorado, Minneapolis and Chicago.    The new locations include Bayview, Racine, Menomonee Falls, New Berlin, Delafield and Fox Point (all in the Milwaukee area); Stillwater in the Minneapolis area; Greenwood, Colorado; and one in Chicago.  

QVC has appointed Bob Spieth as executive VP of QVC's customer and business services. He will oversee supply chain, customer service and experience, operations strategy, and corporate real estate and workplace services for both QVC and zulily businesses, with the exception of zulily's corporate facilities. Spieth joined zulily in 2013 as COO. Prior to zulily, he held several leadership roles with OHL, one of the world's largest third-party logistics companies

Outdoor apparel retailer Patagonia saw record sales on Black Friday that blew past all estimates — and it plans to donate all the revenue.   

Sarah Jessica Parker will be among the retail tenants at a new luxury retail center.   The actress-cum-designer will open her first freestanding store on Dec. 8, at MGM National Harbor, a new resort and upscale retail center just outside of Washington, D.C. The store, called SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker, will feature the brand’s collection of shoes, handbags, accessories, and its new LBD (little black dress line) line. (The SJP brand launched in 2014 in upscale department stores.)  

Consumers now have a new gifting option when ordering from 1-800-Flowers — digital gift cards.   Armed with the CashStar Commerce platform, the retailer now allows customers to select, purchase and personalize digital gift cards across its nine brands: 1-800-Flowers.com, Harry & David, The Popcorn Factory, Cheryl’s, Fannie Mae, 1-800-Baskets.com, Wolferman’s, FruitBouquets.com, and Stock Yards.   

HSN, Inc. has appointed Rod Little as CFO, effective January 3, 2017.   Most recently, Little served as executive VP and CFO of Elizabeth Arden, where he led the company’s global finance and IT organizations and was instrumental in a turnaround that restored revenue growth and profitability, ultimately resulting in the company’s sale to Revlon.  Prior to that, Little was CFO for Procter & Gamble’s multi-billion dollar global salon professional division.   

A deluxe men's grooming concept has big plans for expansion through franchising.   The Gents Place plans to open 150 franchised locations over the next five years, in such markets as Texas, Georgia, Florida, California, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland and Virginia. Currently, the company is aggressively targeting Florida, with plans for 18 locations throughout the state.