eCommerce

Dublin, Calif. – Epicor Software announced the appointment of Noel Goggin as senior VP and general manager of the Epicor Retail solutions business reporting to Epicor president and CEO Pervez Qureshi.

In this strategic role, Goggin will have operating responsibility for the Epicor Retail solutions business which delivers a comprehensive retail management suite representing a complete range of advanced solutions for specialty, soft goods, and general merchandise retailers.

Honolulu — With 42 million visitors per year, the two million-sq.-ft. Ala Moana Center in Honolulu boasts sales per square foot of $1,300. At the beginning of the year, owner General Growth Properties began a massive $572 million redevelopment of Ala Moana — the world’s largest open-air shopping mall. The goal is to add 650,000 sq. ft. of new retail space.

Chicago — Jones Lang LaSalle Retail has announces five new retail assignments. They are:

• Tenant representation services for Pure Barre, a growing fitness franchise.

• Leasing and management for the 802,275-sq.-ft. Coventry mall in Pennsylvania.

• Leasing assignment for an 11-building 817,000-sq.-ft. portfolio of strip centers in SoCal.

• Leasing for a 12-building, 165,100-sq.-ft. portfolio of street-level retail space in New York City on behalf of Equity Residential Management.

DALLAS — Neiman Marcus launched an online beauty product specialist program that offers customers the same personalized counter experience they would receive in-store.

San Francisco -- A resurgent Gap Inc. reported that its second quarter profit jumped 25% on strong sales of denim and other goods at its namesake and Old Navy brands. And bucking a trend set by other retailers, the company raised its full-year earnings guidance. Gap also detailed upcoming expansion plans.

New York -- Aeropostale posted a loss of $33.7 million for the fiscal second quarter that ended Aug. 3, compared to a profit of $71 million a year ago. The teen retailer issued a weak outlook, and upped the number of stores that it plans to close.

Sales decreased 6% to $454.0 million from $485.3 million a year ago. Same-store sales, including the e-commerce channel, fell 15%.

The retailer said it now plans to shut down 30 to 40 Aeropostale locations this fiscal year. Previously, it had stated its plans to close 15 to 20 stores.  

New York — Luxury apparel retailer 3.1 Phillip Lim has leased a 5,800-sq.-ft. store at 48 Jones Street in New York City’s Bowery district. The space includes a 3,500-sq.-ft. ground floor and a lower level with 2,300 sq. ft. The store is expected to open in the first quarter of 2014. 3.1 Phillip Lim also has a store in SoHo on Mercer Street as well as a third U.S. location in Los Angeles.

In the transaction, RKF www.rkf.com represented the landlord, 48 Tenant’s Corp., and Town Real Estate represented 3.1 Phillip Lim.

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Stein Mart Inc. reported that its second-quarter net income increased 48%, helped by higher same-store sales. The retailer also announced that the SEC is conducting an investigation related to Stein Mart's restatement of prior years' financial statements and its change in its auditors.

For the quarter ended Aug. 3, Stein Mart earned $3.4 million up from $2.3 million in the same quarter of 2012.

Revenue increased 4%, to $291 million from $280.4 million. Same-store sales rose 6.4%.