Direct To Consumer (DTC)

Hong Kong -- Esprit Holdings said Thursday that it will close all 93 of its stores in North America, after abandoning previously announced plans to sell off the business or find a licensed operator to run the stores.

However, according to an emailed statement by Patrick Lau, head of investor relations and mergers and acquisitions, Esprit plans to find one or more license partners to maintain the brand’s presence in North America.

SEATTLE — Amazon.com enjoyed tremendous sales growth in the fourth quarter, but it came at a steep price as expenses grew faster than sales due to investments to support future growth.

Pittsburgh -- American Eagle Outfitters said Tuesday that its debut store in Israel will open on Thursday at Ramat Aviv Mall, in Tel Aviv.

Ten additional locations are planned over the next month, in locations such as The Big Mall in Petach Tikva, Kiryat Ono Mall, and Mall of Haifa. The franchise stores will be operated by Fox-Wizel Ltd., a leading retailer and wholesaler in the region.

New York City -- The Talbots is in buyout talks with the private-equity firm Sycamore Partners, according to the Boston Herald. The retailer signed a confidentiality agreement on Friday with the New York-based Sycamore, its second largest shareholder with 10% of the company, according to documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the report said.

Paris -- Carrefour, the second largest retailer in the world after Wal-Mart Stores, has selected French retailing veteran Georges Plassat, 62, as its next CEO and chairman.

Stockholm, Sweden -- Swedish fast-fashion retailer Hennes & Mauritz reported Thursday that net profit for the fourth quarter dipped to $997.2 million from $1.1 billion in the year earlier period. Sales in December, the first month of H&M's fiscal first quarter, were up 13% year-on-year in local currencies, against a forecast 12%. Same-store sales were up 4%.

"Most indicators suggest that the macro-economic climate in many of our markets will continue to be tough during 2012," said CEO Karl-Johan Persson.

Indianapolis -- The Finish Line said Thursday it has appointed Jay Custard as VP of digital marketing for the company.

Custard’s responsibilities include leading and directing corporate strategies involving digital customer acquisition, retention and superior customer satisfaction, as well as developing new strategies to support future growth.

He was previously VP of e-commerce, global, for Crocs.

ALISO VIEJO, Calif. — Buy.com has announced that Bernard Luthi, a 15-year veteran of e-commerce, technology and consumer electronics, has joined the company as chief marketing officer. Previously, Luthi was VP marketing, web management and customer service at Newegg.com.

In his new role, Luthi will lead Buy.com’s marketing initiatives, including web site experience, advertising, BuyTV, public relations and promotions. In addition, he will work closely with Buy.com parent company Rakuten on overall corporate branding. 

New York City -- Prudential Douglas Elliman's Retail Group said it has arranged a long-term lease at 1225 Madison Avenue for Poulet Rose, the recently launched tween division of young girl's fashion and accessories brand Pink Chicken.  

The current lease represents the brands' first standalone store in New York City, with only one other, a Pink Chicken, located in Amagansett. 
 

Woodmere, Ohio -- Urban Outfitters’ concept Free People, as well as men’s shoe retailer Allen Edmonds, will make their debut to the Northeast Ohio market when they open their doors at Eton Chagrin Boulevard.

The Eton location is Free People’s first Ohio boutique while the only other Allen Edmonds stand-alone store in the state is an outlet store in Jefferson, Ohio.