eCommerce

New York -- Hennes & Mauritz AB has cut a deal to open in Manhattan’s Times Square, the New York Post reported.

According to the report, H&M will move into the three-floor, 42,510-sq.-ft. space at 4 Times Square that was previously occupied by the restaurant ESPN Zone. The space, which has been vacant for some two years, includes two huge billboards that wrap above the store’s facade along Broadway and West 42nd Street.

Brooklyn, N.Y. -- West Elm, a division of Williams-Sonoma, announced that it will open a store at 180 University Avenue in Palo Alto, Calif., on Oct. 18.

The new Palo Alto store will include a collection of decorative accessories and art made by Etsy artists from the South Bay. It will be only the second West Elm store selling goods made by Etsy artists in the U.S.

Retail sales in September decelerated from August at many of Walmart’s competitors, but overall demand remained positive judging from the shrinking number of companies who continue to report monthly results.

Discounters The TJX Cos. and Ross Stores reported September same-store sales that rose 6% and 5%, respectively. The figures exceeded both companies’ expectations and shoppers continue to respond to their brand of apparel retail.

FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. — Wet Seal, just days after encouraging its shareholders to reject efforts by Clinton Group to replace its board of directors, reached an agreement with Clinton Group giving them four spots on its board of directors.

As part of the settlement agreement, Clinton Group, which beneficially owns approximately 6.9% of Wet Seal common stock, has terminated its consent solicitation. In addition, Jonathan Duskin, Sidney Horn, Hal Kahn and Henry Winterstern have resigned from the board of directors.

Total U.S. shopper traffic in retail stores and malls for September 2012

The end of back-to-school shopping in the U.S. led to a significant drop in foot traffic this past month. September saw a 13.1% decrease in retail foot traffic compared to August. However, this past month continued a streak of year-over-year improvements. September 2012 foot traffic increased 12.9% when compared with the same month last year.

Toronto -- Ann Taylor announced it opened its first international store on Oct. 4, in the Toronto Eaton Centre, Toronto.

A second international store set to open this November in Toronto at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre.

Mahwah, N.J. -- The Brick Group, one of Canada’s largest volume retailers of home furnishings, bedding, appliances, and home electronics under one roof, has selected TD Financing Services Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank and an affiliate of Mahwah, N.J.-based TD Retail Card Services, to administer its private label credit program.

Killingly, Conn. -- Brixmor Property Group announced that Kohl’s has opened a new store at Killingly Plaza, located in Killingly, Conn.

Kohl’s will take 55,068 renovated sq. ft. of the 66,000-sq.-ft. center, which was previously home to Stop & Shop and a Blockbuster video store.

Brixmor, based in New York City, is the owner of Killingly Plaza.

St. Petersburg, Fla. -- The Prudential Douglas Elliman retail team of Faith Hope Consolo and Joseph Aquino said Wednesday they will serve as consultants to the redevelopment of Baywalk Midcore Shopping Center into The Shops at St. Pete, a mixed-use property in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Foothills Ranch, Calif. -- The chairman of The Wet Seal and three other directors have stepped down from its board, replaced by four nominees of the Clinton Group. The move follows several attempts by the activist investor group, which holds about 7% of Wet Seal, to take control of the struggling retailer.

As a result of the board changes, Clinton Group has agreed to terminate its effort to get support from shareholders for its nominees, Wet Seal said Friday.