Direct To Consumer (DTC)

Leading apparel manufacturer Kellwood has named ex-Barnes & Noble chief financial officer Joseph Lombardi as CEO.

Lombardi joined Kellwood as CFO in 2013, and has three decades of retail experience across a variety of sectors, including apparel.

Dollar General issued a statement Thursday indicating the company is having trouble winning support from the Federal Trade Commission on a $9.1 billion bid for Family Dollar Stores.

Dollar General said it would “defend litigation” if necessary.

The statement could give new momentum to Dollar Tree's $8.5 billion cash and stock competing bid for Family Dollar. Meanwhile, two proxy investment firms have switched their recommendation for Family Dollar shareholders to accept the Dollar Tree offer, rather than the bid from Dollar General.

Seattle -- Nordstrom announced plans to open a Nordstrom Rack, at Chapel Hills East in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and one at Destiny USA mall in Syracuse, New York.

The 33,357-sq.-ft. Destiny Mall location is scheduled to open in fall 2015. The retailer recently announced new Rack stores opening in Buffalo and Albany, also in fall 2015.

The 31,203-sq.-ft. Chapel Hills East Nordstrom is scheduled to open in spring 2016. The property is owned and managed by DDR Corp.

Phoenix – PetSmart Inc. considered but ultimately rejected attempting to buy an unidentified, privately held pet retail chain before agreeing to an $8.7 billion sale in December 2014. In an SEC filing, PetSmart disclosed it decided against the purchase after determining there could be competitive and antitrust issues.

PetSmart also said 27 potential buyers showed interest in purchasing the company between August and October 2014, before PetSmart formally launched a bidding process.

London - Mothercare plc intends to create faster and more convenient omnichannel fulfillment options to its customers using supply chain commerce solutions from Manhattan Associates. The Manhattan solutions will enable Mothercare to make store stock available for online sales and support more efficient customer processes to speed up delivery options through express click and collect services and ship from store.

New York -- Etsy, an online marketplace site that specializes in crafts and artsy items, plans to hold an initial public offering this quarter, according to Bloomberg.

The Brooklyn-based company, which is working with Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, looks to raise about $300 million, the report said.

Beverly, Mass. - Orchard Brands, a multichannel retailer of apparel and home products focused on consumers older than 50, has partnered with Borderfree for global e-commerce. Through its partnership with Borderfree, Orchard Brands’ 13 unique online storefronts are now available to international shoppers in more than 100 countries and territories worldwide.

Etsy, an e-marketplace that specializes in crafts and other artsy items, plans to hold an initial public offering as soon as this quarter, according to Bloomberg.

The decade-old company may seek to raise about $300 million, Bloomberg says, and is working with Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.