Direct To Consumer (DTC)

NEW YORK — Macy’s Inc. announced a strategic plan on Wednesday to open new stores in select markets as well as to close a series of underperforming units. As part of the plan, five Macy’s department stores will be shuttered in spring 2012 – in Topeka, Kan.; Laurel, Md.; Parma, Ohio; Antioch, Tenn.; and Texas City, Texas. Five new Macy’s stores will open in 2012 and 2013.

City of Industry, Calif. -- Hot Topic reported Wednesday that same-store sales for the nine-week holiday shopping period of November and December edged up 1.2%. The company upped its fourth quarter guidance based on the results.

In related news, Hot Topic has named Cindy Levitt as VP, general merchandise manager, effective Jan. 16.

NEW YORK — While the Liz Claiborne brand will be kept alive thanks to a recent deal with JCPenney, the company behind the name is headed in a new direction. Liz Claiborne Inc. announced it is changing its name to "Fifth & Pacific Companies" to better communicate its strategic focus on growing its three global lifestyle brands (Juicy Couture, Kate Spade and Lucky Brand). The change is expected to be effective on or about May 15, 2012 at which time the company will begin trading as Fifth & Pacific Companies Inc. (NYSE: FNP).

New York City -- The owners of the Panda Express fast-food chain, Andrew and Peggy Cherng, have partnered with Procter & Gamble, whose products include Tide laundry detergent, to open a dry cleaning chain, Panda Dry Cleaning, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The new concept made its debut under the Tide Dry Cleaners banner in Henderson, Nev., and as many as 200 franchised locations nationwide are planned for the next five years.

Throughout the industry, retailers are reinventing strategies, changing formats and resizing footprints. While many are downsizing prototypes, Casual Male Retail Group is transitioning from traditional 3,500 sq. ft. Casual Male XL stores to a big-box Destination XL format. Dennis Hernreich, who holds the dual titles of COO and CFO for Casual Male Retail Group (CMRG), talked with Chain Store Age contributing editor Connie Gentry about the opportunities and challenges of transforming the business to better serve an expanded market. 

SAN JOSE, Calif. — eBay announced that it has partnered with Toys“R”Us, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Aeropostale for a new incentive for you to spend money online and in stores.

According to the companies, when customers spend $100 online using PayPal at Toys“R”Us or Babies“R”Us on eBay, ToysRUs.com, BabiesRUs.com, Dicks Sporting Goods or Aeropostale.com, they will earn $10 to shop in-store.

Boston -- Zmags, a provider of rich media mobile and social merchandising, announced that Kenneth Cole has chosen Zmags CommercePro to create integrated web, mobile/tablet and Facebook-commerce brand experiences that drive product discovery and inspire purchase.

Kenneth Cole’s first commerce-enabled catalog launched in November, providing a dynamic and engaging experience to help its customers discover and buy the perfect gift.

Keller, Texas -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said that Bear Creek Running Co. will open a new store at Keller Town Center, located in Keller, Texas.

The new 1,200-sq.-ft. store is slated to open Jan. 2012.

Keller Town Center is a 114,937-sq.-ft. shopping center anchored by a 63,631-sq.-ft. Tom Thumb alongside national retailers such as Starbucks, Pizza Hut and RadioShack.