eCommerce

New York -- American Apparel has purchased the independent New York specialty retailer and wholesaler, Oak, according to Women’s Wear Daily.  

Oak has two stores (one in Brooklyn, and the other in Manhattan) an e-commerce site and a wholesale business. The brand has a cool, hip vibe, and features contemporary fashions at upmarket prices. It will operate as a separate division within American Apparel, and its founders will remain on board, the report said.

ATLANTA, Ga. — Vir2o, a new social media platform by East Coast Diversified Corporation, has announced that its online, interactive e-commerce engine is open for business and powered by Amazon. 

Members of the aStore will be able to browse through a wide range of products and shop online with friends in their network in real time, thanks to ECDC's nVite technology. ECDC's proprietary nVite technology also lets Vir2o members watch movies together and share photos in real time.

Boston -- Japanese retailer Yummie House is piloting a new mobile rewards solution at 10 stores in Shanghai, China. Yummie House is using a joint application from Appconomy and ByteLight that combines the cloud-based Appconomy Platform mobile marketing platform solution with ByteLight light field communication (LFC) technology.

Coldwater Creek, a leading multichannel retailer of women’s apparel, jewelry and accessories, is leveraging Alliance Data Systems Corporation’s Retail Services business to expand its co-branded credit card program and launch a Coldwater Creek private-label credit card program. 

El Segundo, Calif. -- Big 5 Sporting Goods reported that its second-quarter profit more than doubled from a year ago on higher sales and expanding margins, but its revenue fell short of expectations.

The sporting goods’ retailer said its net income increased to $6.1 million for the period ended June 30, up from $2.6 million in the year ago period. Net sales climbed 5.9%, to $239.9 million, below the $244 million expected by analysts.

FREMONT, Calif. — The Men's Wearhouse has appointed retail industry veteran Allen I. Questrom to its board of directors.

Questrom’s addition brings the Men's Wearhouse board to a total of nine directors, seven of whom are independent.

Peoria, Ill. — Bar Louie Restaurant & Bar has signed for 6,500 sq. ft. at Streets of St. Charles in St. Charles, Mo., according to developer, manager and owner Cullinan Properties. Bar Louie will move into its first floor Phase II space next spring.

Construction of the development’s 400,000-sq.-ft. Phase II will finish up this fall. Phase II will house the retail and entertainment portions of the project as well as additional residential space to complement Phase I.

Foothill Ranch, Calif. -- The Wet Seal, Inc. has selected the Demandware Commerce platform to help support omni-channel operations. The specialty apparel retailer will leverage the solution to provide optimal online and mobile shopping services in a secure environment, integrated with its larger merchandising strategy.