Direct To Consumer (DTC)

New York – Ann Inc. is being urged to explore options, including a sale, by activist investor Engine Capital and Red Alder. The two firms, who collectively own more than 1% of the outstanding shares of Ann Inc., are publicly urging the company to sell at a substantial premium above current stock price.

Hollywood, Calif. - Direct-to-consumer cosmetics retailer GlamOn Inc. is operating an automated beauty store at Harrah's Resort Southern California in Valley Center, California. The store is based on an automated retailing system from AVT Inc.

The system is the first of its kind that provides luxury beauty products, skin care, hair care, grooming items and gifts, from an automated retailing center. The selections are usually only sold in luxury stores, upscale dermatologist offices, and exclusive spas, as well as the GlamOn e-commerce site.

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group recently introduced its U.S. e-commerce site, 11Main.com. Like its parent company Alibaba, 11 Main operates by letting other retailers and businesses sell goods through its platform in exchange for a small portion of the proceeds. 11 Main offers shops in a variety of categories including fashion & style, home & outdoor, jewelry & watches, baby & kids, collecting & art, and crafts, hobbies & toys. Buying and/or selling goods on 11 Main requires an invitation.

New York -- Saks Fifth Avenue will open a three-level, 107,000-sq.-ft. store in Brickell City Centre, Miami.

The store, scheduled to open in fall 2016, will help anchor the mixed-use development, which is currently under construction. The project includes residential, office and hotel space, along with a 565,000-sq.-ft. shopping center.

The Italian luxury brand Fendi gets social in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood, opening a pop-up whose brick walls are adorned with neon hash tag signs.   

The 630-sq.-ft. shop, dubbed #fendisoho, combines sophisticated touches — leather and velvet — with a playful, arcade-themed décor that includes custom vending machines, where products dangle from mechanical claws.   

New York -- Toms, the footwear company best known for donating a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair it sells, has sold a 50% stake in its company to private equity giant Bain Capital LLC. The investment will help Toms expand its distribution in Europe, Asia and in the United States, including increasing its store count from its current two locations.

The investment reportedly values Toms at about $625 million, including debt. Blake Mycoskie, who founded Toms in 2006, will retain a 50% stake and remain at the helm.

By Michael Hirschfeld, senior VP of JLL’s National Retail Tenant Services

Secaucus, N.J. -- The Children's Place, Inc. reported a loss of $10.7 million in the quarter ended Aug. 2, compared to a loss of $23.6 million in the year-ago period. Sales edged up to $384.6 million, from $382.4 million for second quarter 2013.

Same-store sales increased 0.8%.