Direct To Consumer (DTC)

A Toys“R”Us executive will take over the top post at Brookstone, the product development company and specialty retailer that emerged from bankruptcy this year after being bought by a group of Chinese investors.

“We were impressed by Tom's success at rejuvenating businesses and by his broad and deep achievements as a senior executive in the retail industry,” Piau Phang Foo, chairman of the board of directors, said. “He has demonstrated success at driving innovation and growth globally."

London -- Challenged to grow in the U.S., teen apparel chain American Eagle Outfitters is making good on its pledge to leverage the overseas market to kickstart expansion.   

Seattle -- Nordstrom has surpassed Wall Street estimates with an unexpected jump in profit and sales for the quarter ended Nov. 1.   The department store retailer reported a profit of $142 million for the third quarter, up from $137 million in the year-ago period.   Sales jumped 9% to $3.14 billion, beating the expected $3.11 billion in revenue. Same-store sales rose 3.9%.  

New stores, 3.9% same store sales growth and increased loyalty propelled Nordstrom to record third quarter sales.

The company’s total sales increased 8.9% to $3 billion thanks to the addition of new stores and a 3.9% same store sales increase that was driven by online growth. Profits increased 3.6% to $142 million compared to $137 million while earnings per share increased 5.8% to 73 cents from 69 cents.

San Mateo, Calif. -– 11 Main Inc., the U.S. online shopping platform operated by Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Inc., has launched a mobile app optimized for iPhone, iPod Touch and Android, with an iPad version coming later in the year. The mobile applications are optimized for each platform and offer 11 Main’s online shopping experience.   

Kansas City -- Eddie Bauer has opened an Eddie Bauer Outlet story at Kansas City’s signature designer outlet shopping center, Legends Outlet Kansas City. The new store opened on Nov. 13.   The only area Eddie Bauer Outlet opened between J. Crew | crewcuts and OshKosh B’Gosh at 1813 Village West Parkway, occupying 3,964 sq. ft.  

Washington, D.C. -- Canadian outdoor brand Arc'teryx will open its first East Coast location, and fourth in the U.S., in CityCenterDC, downtown Washington, D.C.'s new mixed-use development.   

New York -- Panasonic has unveiled a pop-up store in New York City's Union Square area featuring a collection of Panasonic's latest consumer products from the home, adventure, imaging, entertainment and beauty categories for shoppers planning their holiday gift-giving.  

The Grommet is partnering with a store in Boston to launch a “pop-in” shop on Nov. 20 as part of an effort to bridge the gap between e-commerce and brick-and-mortar stores.

With so many consumers on the hunt for unique holiday gifts, the Grommet said it wants shoppers to be able to touch, test and purchase the company’s offerings. The “pop-in” Grommet shop will be located within Boston boutique Michelle Willey and be open from Nov. 20 through the end of December.

New York -- Online beauty retailer Birchbox is launching in Canada, marking the sixth country the company has expanded to since launching in the United States in Sept. 2010.      Since our launch in 2010, we’ve had tens of thousands of customer inquiries regarding shipping to Canada,” says Birchbox co-Founder and co-CEO Katia Beauchamp. “So we’re thrilled to finally bring Birchbox north of the border.”