Direct To Consumer (DTC)

New Milford, Conn. -- Westport, Conn.-based Charter Realty & Development Corp. said it has arranged a lease for 28,000 sq. ft. for a HomeGoods store in the Kohls Plaza, located in New Milford, Conn.

HomeGoods will be a part of Litchfield Crossings, which is a new, 282,000-sq.-ft. development that is being built by Scalzo Realty.

The current upheaval we’re experiencing with booksellers reminds me of those nature documentaries where the host talks about what happens when a giant tree in the forest comes crashing down, leaving a gaping hole in the forest canopy. In those instances, dozens of smaller trees and plants spring up to take advantage of that gap and soak up the new light.

Dallas -- A Wednesday report in the Dallas Business Journal said that Neiman Marcus has hired a new chief human resources officer.

Sandra Brooslin-Viviano joined the company on July 18 as senior VP human resources, succeeding the newly retired Maritea O’Dea.

Brooslin-Viviano, 55, was previously executive VP human resources for New York and Co.

New York City -- Athletic apparel, footwear and accessories marketer Under Armour has opened its first European outlet store, in Madrid, Spain.

SAN FRANCISCO — Levi's announced that its Denizen jeans brand is making its U.S. debut exclusively at Target stores and on Target.com. 

The brand first launched in Asia in 2010 and is available in China, India, Mexico, Pakistan, Singapore and South Korea, in addition to the United States.

Melville, N.Y. -- DJM Realty, a Gordon Brothers Group company, said Monday it has been retained to exclusively manage the disposition of all remaining Borders Group and Waldenbooks real estate in the United States. The news came after Borders announced it had abandoned hope that the company could be saved from liquidation.

A new infant through tween apparel line from Gwen Stefani called Harajuku Mini for Target is slated to hits stores this fall, according to various media reports of an interview the singer did with Women’s Wear Daily. Prices are expected to range from $3.99 to $39.99.

Stefani already has an adult line of clothes called Harajuku, so it’s not like Target is taking a flyer on a completely unknown commodity.

New York — Francesca's Holdings Corp. will price its initial public offering of 10 million shares between $14 and $16 a share, the Houston Business Journal reported. 

The women’s specialty apparel retailer will trade on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, under the ticker symbol FRAN, the report said.

In March 2011, private equity firm CCMP Capital acquired a controlling interest in Francesca’s, which operates 160 stores. 

St. Louis — Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc. president John Haugh said Thursday that he will resign as the company’s president, as reported by the St. Louis Business Journal.

Haugh’s resignation is effective July 22, according to an SEC filing. His successor hasn’t been named, but current duties will be filled in the interim by Chief Financial and Operations Officer Tina Klocke, Chief Entertainment Officer Teresa Kroll and Chief Executive Maxine Clark.

Haugh has been at the helm since 2009.

New York City — Prudential Douglas Elliman's Retail Group announced that the Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry Collection, a Madison Avenue destination, has moved to Soho at 109 Mercer Street, between Prince and Spring Streets. The store will feature a full collection including jewelry, footwear, handbags and apparel. 

Ivanka Trump has leased 3,100 sq. ft. of multi-level space on one of downtown's most fashionable streets in Soho, surrounded by Balenciaga, YSL, Agent Provocateur, Hugo Boss and 3.1 Phillip Lim.