News

The chief executive of Hasbro Inc. has joined the board of directors of Gap Inc., effective Aug. 12.   The retailer said it is adding Brian D. Goldner to its board as the merchant focuses on its “next era of retail.” His appointment comes shortly after Gap posted a disappointing sales for the second quarter.   

J.C. Penney Co. continues to make progress in its turnaround efforts as its narrowed its second quarter loss and posted a gain in same-store sales even as Macy’s and Kohl’s posted declines.    The retailer also reaffirmed its full year forecast of a 3%- to 4% increase in same-store sales.    It’s been a busy few months for Penney, which has been opening expanded appliance departments and testing in-store partnerships with Ashley Furniture and Empire Today.  

Nordstrom Inc. is enhancing the rewards it offers customers via its loyalty program.    The retailer partnered with Aimia Inc., a data-driven marketing and loyalty analytics company, to expand the Nordstrom Rewards loyalty program.   The expanded program launched in Nordstrom stores in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, and on Nordstrom.com in May 2016. In the first three months, Nordstrom has enrolled approximately 1.7 million new members.  

Consumers cooled their spending in July.    Retail sales were flat in July, in line with a revised 0.8% gain in June, according to figures released Friday by the Commerce Department. The report ended three straight months of monthly gains.     Sales in July rose 2.3% from a year ago. Excluding automobiles and parts sales, sales fell 0.3% in July — the weakest reading since January, after a 0.9% gain in the prior month.     

Nordstrom Rack has announced a fourth location as it makes preparations to drop anchor north of the border.   Nordstrom announced that Nordstrom Rack will open a 35,000-sq.-ft. store at South Edmonton Common in Edmonton, Alberta, in fall 2018.     The property is owned and managed by Cameron Corporation and CREIT.    

Online and catalog retailer Garnet Hill is taking a curated collection of its aspirationally styled home and apparel goods on the road with a mobile pop-up boutique.   The experience, created from a converted shipping container, resembles a natural home environment – except that it's shop-able. The mobile pop-up will launch at Garnet Hill headquarters in Franconia, New Hampshire, moving south through New Hampshire, and completing its summer tour in New York City.    

Pottery Barn opened its redesigned store at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, California.    The 17,293-sq.-ft. store is influenced by the Spanish Mediterranean architecture found throughout Orange County, blending traditional and contemporary elements to create a refined and relaxed environment. As part of Pottery Barn’s commitment to sustainability, the store features LED lighting to reduce energy consumption and low VOC paints to reduce toxins.  

Bayer Properties’ plan for drawing shoppers to its new $156 million mixed-use development in Lexington, Kentucky, could be one that catches on in other rural regions: Recruit retail tenants that are not new to the universe, but new to the state.   So when it opens next spring, the retail roster at The Summit at Fritz Farm will include Bonobos, Cos Bar, Shake Shack, J. McLaughlin, Brooks Brothers, and — just signed this week — Marine Layer.