eCommerce

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco membership seems to defy current consumer trends as the warehouse club announced Wednesday that it would raise its annual membership fees at the same time reporting increases in fourth quarter sales and earnings.

The Associated Press reported last week that First Lady Michelle Obama was sighted shopping incognito at a D.C. area Target store wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses. Secret Service agents arrived about a half-hour before Mrs. Obama, who walked in through the main entrance with an assistant and spent 30 to 40 minutes shopping and pushing her own cart, according to AP.

Chicago -- Claire's Stores, Inc. said Tuesday that it has named Beatrice Lafon President of the European Division, effective immediately.

In her position as President of Europe, Lafon will lead the continued growth and expansion of the European business, with direct oversight of buying, merchandising and allocation, supply chain, stores, and the overall operations for approximately 1,100 stores across 13 countries.

Lafon will report to Gene Kahn, CEO. 

Fort Worth, Texas -- Dallas-based Cypress Equities said that its West 7th mixed-use development in Fort Worth, Texas, has signed specialty women’s fashion retailer Peruvian Atelier for a 2,357-sq.-ft. shop slated to open in late 2011.

The new store will be located between Flirt Boutique and the soon-to-open Keena’s.

New York — British apparel retailer Jack Wills is looking to nearly double its store count in the United States, according to various reports in the U.K. media.

The company, which specializes in preppy clothing for young men and women, currently operates 11 U.S. locations and has plans to add eight to 10 stores next year. It made its U.S. debut in 2010, in Massachusetts.

The revelation this week that Target chief marketing officer Michael Francis had jumped ship to become president at JCPenney was a surprising development that sucked some of the oxygen out of the retailer’s Minneapolis headquarters. Target is all about marketing and Francis was instrumental in shaping some of the most interesting customer communications the marketing world saw during the past decade. He was so highly thought of that earlier this year he was tapped to lead Target’s entry into Canada, arguably the company’s most significant longer term growth driver.

Phoenix -- Cole Real Estate Investments announced the formation of a joint venture with RED Development to focus on future acquisition opportunities, recapitalizations and note purchases in the retail real estate sector. 

Ridgefield, Conn. — Spanish fast-fashion retail giant Zara has chosen Schimenti Construction Company to build its new flagship at 666 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. The 39,000-sq.-ft. store is located in the former home of the NBA Store.

“We have begun the first phase (demolition and structural work) of the project which has included lowering the second floor to provide a higher ceiling and installing new steel beams,” said project executive Joseph Schimenti.