Direct To Consumer (DTC)

BENSALEM, Pa. — Charming Shoppes Inc. recorded a wider-than-expected loss for its fourth quarter as higher product costs and discounts at its Lane Bryant division cut into margins. The chain said it plans to close between 90 to 105 underperforming stores this year.

Charming Shoppes, which hired Barclays Capital in December to help it review its options, posted a loss of $13.2 million for the three months ended Jan. 28, compared with a loss of $30.4 million a year ago.

San Diego -- Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services said it has named Phil Sambazis senior director of the firm’s National Retail Group in San Diego. Sambazis joined Marcus & Millichap in March 2006 and specializes in the acquisition and disposition of retail shopping centers and net-leased investments.

Marcus & Millichap has also named Kevin W. Boeve senior director of the firm’s National Retail Group in Ontario. Boeve joined Marcus & Millichap in June 1999.

BENSALEM, Pa. — Charming Shoppes has announced that Jeffrey Liss has been promoted to SVP general manager of Charming Direct, the company's direct-to-consumer business.

Bensalem, Pa. -- Charming Shoppes announced that Jeffrey H. Liss has been promoted to senior VP - general manager of Charming Direct, the company's direct-to-consumer business.

Liss, who previously served as senior VP and COO of Charming Direct, will have full responsibility for Charming Shoppes’ direct-to-consumer and e-commerce businesses, including the company's retail brands' related e-commerce businesses and Figi's, its food and gift business.
 

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — "Desperate Housewives" star Eva Longoria will debut her second fragrance, EVAmour by Eva Longoria, on HSN, HSN.com and HSN Mobile on March 29.

"EVAmour will become a personal scent for women who are confident, beautiful, sexy and intelligent...just like the HSN customer," said Longoria. "I know how I feel when I am wearing it and I wish every woman to feel that same sense of sexiness and power."

Fort Worth, Texas -- RadioShack Corp. said Thursday it has made an agreement with Malaysian retail group Berjaya Retail Berhad that will expand RadioShack's global footprint across 10 Southeast Asian countries.

Under the long-term agreement, Berjaya Retail (Cayman) Limited as franchise developer is expected to open at least 1,000 franchise locations across the Association of Southeast Asia Nations within the first 10 years. Its subsidiary in Malaysia, Berjaya RS Sdn. Bhd., expects to open its first RadioShack locations later this year in Kuala Lumpur.

Dallas -- The Neiman Marcus Group said Thursday that it will invest $28 million in Glamour Sales Holding, a Shanghai-based e-commerce company, as part of its strategy to gain a foothold in the Asian e-commerce marketplace.

“We are taking this bold step to establish Neiman Marcus Group as an international brand,” said Karen Katz, president and CEO, Neiman Marcus Group.

Philadelphia -- Urban Outfitters said Wednesday that CFO Eric Artz is leaving the company, and will be replaced by current chief accounting officer Frank Conforti, effective April 3.

No reason has been given for Artz’s departure, other than he plans to return to the west coast.

Urban Outfitters operates under the Anthropologie, BHLDN, Free People, Terrain and Urban Outfitters brands.