Direct To Consumer (DTC)

New Delhi, India -- India’s government said Thursday that it has OK’d plans to permit foreign retailers to open stores that sell more than one brand, paving the way for retailers such as Wal-Mart Stores and Carrefour SA to expand their presence in the country.

The approved plan calls for overseas companies to put half of their investment in infrastructure such as processing, manufacturing, storage, warehouses and packaging.

NIWOT, Colo. — Casual footwear brand, Crocs, has announced that Dale Bathum has been appointed chief product officer, Mike DeBell has been named chief sales officer and Doug Hayes has taken the role of president of the Americas market. As chief product officer, Bathum will be responsible for overseeing ideation, design, development and introduction of Crocs products to the international marketplace, while DeBell will lead all Crocs global sales offices and direct-to-consumer sales in the role of chief sales officer.

TORONTO — Target is bringing its REDcard Rewards program to Canada. The company announced that its Canadian customers will receive an additional 5% off every day when shopping at Target with its REDcard products, which include the Target Debit Card and Target RBC MasterCard. Similar to the REDcard Rewards loyalty program in the U.S., the additional savings - which apply to almost everything at Target - will be applied instantly at time of purchase.

Pittsburgh -- American Eagle Outfitters Inc. said Wednesday that its board declared a special cash dividend of $1.50 and a regular quarterly dividend of 11 cents.

The retailer said the total cash dividend of $1.61 will be paid on Oct. 10 to shareholders of record as of Sept. 26.

American Eagle said the dividends are part of its cash strategy to invest in the company, while still returning profits to its shareholders.
 

Philadelphia -- Tween discounter Five Below Inc. reported Tuesday a loss in the second quarter of $64.2 million due to one-time costs that were attributed mainly to dividend payments made to preferred shareholders, among others. That compares with a loss of $1.7 million in the year-ago period. However, adjusted profit of $1.2 million beat expectations and the company’s third-quarter and full-year estimates are in line with Wall Street’s forecast.

New York -- Ann Taylor on Oct. 5 will open its first store outside of the United States, in the Toronto Eaton Centre. The company will open a second store in Canada, located in Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre, in November.

Westborough, Mass. -- Apparel retailer Charlotte Russe has selected Micros Retail, a division of Micros Systems Inc., to develop and build a robust omnichannel solution as part of a revamp of its retail systems.

CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif. — Jerry Cook has resigned as chief store officer of Hot Topic, the retailer announced Thursday. The resignation is effective Feb. 28 and because of Cook's plans relocate his family to Texas and pursue other professional opportunities.