Mass Merchant

The retail industry will lose an estimated $8.76 billion to return fraud this year, and $3.39 billion during the holiday season alone, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2013 Return Fraud Survey. Overall, 5.8% of holiday returns are fraudulent, up slightly from 4.6% last year.

Plano, Texas – Rent-A-Center plans to rebrand the kiosks it operates within third-party retail locations across the country.

Operating under the RAC Acceptance brand since being launched in 2006, the kiosks will transition to the AcceptanceNow brand. Existing kiosks, of which there are over 1,300, will convert in January 2014. Kiosks slated to open this month will immediately adopt the AcceptanceNow name.

Chad Kessler was named chief merchandising and design officer at American Eagle Outfitters after the company reported a big decline in third-quarter profits and said it expects fourth quarter same-store sales to decline.

The Model S is the world’s first premium sedan built from the ground up as an electric vehicle and has been engineered to elevate the public’s expectations of what a premium sedan can be. Model S has received many of the industry’s most prestigious awards and accolades during its first year on the market.

North Plainfield, Manahawkin, N.J. — The Stafford Park shopping center in Manahawkin, N.J. has named Levin Management as its exclusive leasing agent. The 350-acre mixed-use redevelopment project includes 400,000 sq. ft. of retail space, including anchor tenants Costco and Target. The site has received approval to add another 195,000 sq. ft. The new retail space includes several pad sites.

Peoria, Ill. — Called The Levee District, the 86-acre new downtown going up in East Peoria, Ill., will include 500,000 sq. ft. of retail and restaurant space as well as office, hotel and civic components.

Four new retailers recently inked leases for space in The Levee District.

Construction is well underway on a 10,400-sq.-ft. space next to Gordmans to be occupied by Shoe Dept Encore. The new store plans to open in the spring of 2014.

San Francisco -- Gap Inc. reported its November 2013 net sales increased 8% compared with last year. Same-store sales for the period rose 2%.

Net sales for the four-week period ended November 30, 2013 were $1.63 billion, compared with net sales of $1.52 billion for the four-week period ended November 24, 2012.

Milwaukee — The Marcus Corporation has announced the initial line-up of tenants at The Corners of Brookfield, an open-air, town-center-style development in Brookfield, Wis. The mixed-use 460,000-sq.-ft. development will be anchored by Wisconsin’s first Von Maur department store, which will span 140,000 sq. ft.

The announcement followed a vote by the Brookfield Board approving the development agreement between the town and Marcus. The agreement provides for tax incremental financing for the project.