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RANDOM NOTES

Brooks Bros. is testing a new retail concept called Brooks Bros. Country Club Collection ,with the debut site at Grand Boulevard, Sandestin, Fla. (followed by additional units in Tucson, Ariz., and Southampton, N.Y.). The 2,188-sq.-ft. shop has a casual, clubhouse atmosphere, and is devoted to the retailer’s Country Club line for men and women. Several other locations are in the works, including stores in Sarasota, Fla., and Myrtle Beach, S.C.… Aeropostale plans to convert 18 stores this year to its new prototype and to renovate 40% of its stores to the same within three years. The format has a cooler, more hip look than the retailer’s signature “white box” and includes updated merchandise displays, new contemporary-styled fixtures and oversized lifestyle graphics. The fitting-room space is accented with bamboo, has seating, and is designed as a lounge area for customers and friends. The individual rooms have see-through doors that cloud over when a customer steps inside.… Playboy will set up shop next spring on Oxford Street in London. The 2,400-sq.-ft. store will carry Playboy lingerie, apparel, cosmetics, jewelry and accessories. The interior will be fashioned around the brand’s iconic symbols, with wall murals of images from Playboy’s archives. It will include a lounge where shoppers can play Playboy video games and watch archived footage on plasma screens.… The new David Yurman boutique in Beverly Hills, Calif., has a modern, glamorous feel, with floating counters and in-wall cases. The design is by Yabu Pushelberg, Toronto.

COMPANY/PERSONNEL UPDATES

WD Partners, Columbus, Ohio, has opened an office in Mumbai, India, to assist global retailers seeking to expand in India, as well as multi-unit Indian retailers. It is led by architect and Mumbainative Rajesh Chhablani.… Target Corp.’s property design group has honored MulvannyG2 Architecture ,Bellevue, Wash., as an outstanding consultant of the year for innovation. The firm, which designed 30 new Target stores in 2006, regularly provides architectural consulting services for the retailer.… Callison has promoted three senior staff members to the role of principal: Robin Hold, John Mason and Ron Singler.… Fitch, Columbus, Ohio, has appointed Bryan Gailey as creative director to lead the New York studio creative team. He most recently served as associate principal at Callison.… Pavlik Design Team has relocated to 6451 North Federal Highway, Ste. 1000, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., 33308.

UPCOMING EVENTS

The 2007 International Retail Design Conference (IRDC) will be held Sept. 19-21, at the InterContinental Buckhead, Atlanta (www.irdconline.com).