Direct To Consumer (DTC)

Despite the fact that the nation is still in the throes of winter, albeit a mild one, open-air centers continue to draw shoppers and generate leasing interest among retailers.

In the early days of upscale lifestyle centers, and before enhanced strip centers and specialty formats, the longevity of some open-air centers came under question as developers, retailers and consumers alike challenged the shopability of the format outside the sunbelt regions.

By Stephen Wyss

As retailers eye avenues for growth in 2012, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) will be a key area of interest and activity.

New York City -- Mindy Grossman, CEO of HSN Inc., is staying at the home shopping giant and is not interested in becoming the next CEO at Avon Products Inc., according to Women's Wear Daily.

The report cited a letter Grossman sent to top HSN executives at HSN.

Previous reports had Grossman as a top candidate to replace Avon CEO Andrea Jung, who agreed in December to resign.

St. Louis -- Build-A-Bear Workshop reported a loss of $9 million for the fourth quarter, down from a profit of $8.3 million in the year-ago period. Total revenue dropped 5% to $119 million. The company said its profit and revenue took a hit when two movies it important product tie-ins with underperformed.

Dallas -- Venture Commercial said that Party City Corp. has signed three leases in Texas and Oklahoma, with plans to open new stores in Dallas; Edinburg, Texas; and Tulsa, Okla., ranging in size from 12,000 sq. ft. to 12,635 sq. ft.

The Dallas store is in Wheatland Towne Crossing, a Target-anchored shopping center. The Edinburg store is located in The Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley, and the Tulsa store is in the Mingo Marketplace Shopping Center.
 

With China on pace to become one of the world's biggest retail market, any insight on developing a retail business in this area is welcomed, which is why it is no surprise that Scott Price, president and CEO of Walmart Asia, is scheduled to speak at the World Retail Congress Asia Pacific in Beijing this March.

New Albany, Ohio -- Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries told analysts during a conference call Wednesday that the teen retailer would close 180 U.S. stores by 2015.

The chain will target underperforming locations for closure, and by shuttering them hopes to boost image and profits. Specific stores slated for closure have not yet been announced.

Chicago -- A Tuesday report by the Chicago Tribune said that Urban Outfitters has opened its second BHLDN store, the apparel retailer’s fledgling bridal concept that first debuted in Houston last summer.