Direct To Consumer (DTC)

Chicago -- A new report by Jones Lang LaSalle found that with 92% of retailers selling online, 68% maintaining brick-and-mortar stores, and 64% utilizing catalogs, retailers are embracing a multichannel approach to meet buyer expectations and battle for market share.

New York -- Ann Inc. announced Thursday that it will open two stores in Toronto, in fall 2012, marking the apparel retailer’s first foray outside the United States.

“Toronto is the perfect location to open our first international stores. It is a beautiful city filled with modern, sophisticated women who lead busy lives, and we are excited to bring a trusted fashion destination that offers great style as well as incredible versatility,” said head designer Lisa Axelson.

Merrimack, N.H. -- Brookstone said it has hired Stephen Bebis as its new president and CEO, effective immediately.

Bebis is the founder of Golf Town and served as its president and CEO for 14 years. He has also worked at Home Depot, serving as VP general merchandise manager for its mid-southern division.

I’m just back from the retail real estate industry’s annual confab, the International Council of Shopping Centers’ RECon, in Las Vegas. As part of the event, Faith Hope Consolo, chairman, Prudential Douglas Elliman, hosted a panel discussion of retailers at the Women’s Special Industry Group meeting. Here are some of the more notable quotes from the discussion:

Brenda Godfrey, VP global store development, Starbucks Coffee Co.

Kansas City -- The area’s first White House Black | Market Outlet boutique opened on May 24 at Legends Outlets Kansas City.

The concept features not only collections designed specifically for the outlet boutique, but also an assortment from its full-price boutiques as well.

The White House Black Market Outlet boutique will occupy 2,955 sq. ft. next to Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th.

San Francisco -- Williams-Sonoma Inc. reported Thursday that first-quarter profit dipped to $30.7 million, from $31.6 million last year, but results topped Wall Street estimates and the retailer has raised its full-year earnings forecast.

Sales increased 6% to $817.6 million, also surpassing analysts’ estimates of $811.7 million. Same-store sales grew 5.4% overall, driven by strength from Pottery Barn (up 9.1%) and West Elm (up 22.1%).

Specialty retailer Brookstone has hired Stephen Bebis as its new president and CEO, effective immediately.

Prior to joining Brookstone, Bebis spent 14 years as founder, president and CEO of Golf Town, the largest specialty golf retailer in Canada. Starting the business from scratch, Bebis grew Golf Town to 57 locations across Canada and led the expansion of the company into the Boston market last year with seven stores.

CINCINNATI — Macy's is offering customers in China access to an assortment of its highly regarded private brand merchandise through a Macy's section on Omei.com, a newly established China-based online retailer of in-season luxury and fashion brands operated by VIPStore Co., Ltd.

New York -- American Eagle Outfitters earned a better-than-expected $39.7 million for the quarter ended April 28, compared with $28.3 million in the same period last year.

The company had said earlier first-quarter sales rose 18% to $719 million. Same-store sales were up 17%.

Cincinnati -- Macy's Inc. will start selling some of its private brand merchandise directly to shoppers in China through a deal with an online retailer there.

The chain said it will the goods through a Macy’s section on Omei.com, a newly established China-based online retailer of in-season luxury and fashion brands operated by VIPStore Co., a Chinese e-commerce firm and parent company of Omei.com