{"id":363,"date":"2011-06-17T22:22:00","date_gmt":"2011-06-18T02:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/newsroom.chainstoreguide.com\/2011\/06\/department-stores-and-apparel-industry-alerts-june-2011\/"},"modified":"2011-06-17T22:22:00","modified_gmt":"2011-06-18T02:22:00","slug":"department-stores-and-apparel-industry-alerts-june-2011","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chainstoreguide.com\/offthechain\/2011\/06\/department-stores-and-apparel-industry-alerts-june-2011\/","title":{"rendered":"Department Stores and Apparel Industry Alerts &#124; June 2011"},"content":{"rendered":"<div dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\" trbidi=\"on\"><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><u>Personnel Updates:<\/u><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><br \/><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">Bluefly, Inc<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">. announced that Joseph C. Park has been appointed as CEO.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">Kate Spade<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\"> announced that it will open a new full-line store in <st1:city w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Seattle<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>\u2019s <st1:street w:st=\"on\"><st1:address w:st=\"on\">Pacific Place<\/st1:address><\/st1:street>. The store will be 1,632 sq. ft. and will be the first Kate Spade store in the state of <st1:state w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Washington<\/st1:place><\/st1:state>. Kate Spade currently has 66 locations in the <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">United States<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">Loehmann&#8217;s Holdings Inc<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\"> named Steven Newman as the new CEO. Joe Melvin, who served as Interim CEO, will resume his duties as COO. Steven Newman most recently served as President of women&#8217;s retailer <b>Ashley Stewart<\/b>. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">The Talbots, Inc.<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\"> named Lesli Gilbert Senior VP of Stores. In this role, Ms. Gilbert will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of Talbots core retail operations in the <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\">U.S.<\/st1:country-region> and <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:country-region w:st=\"on\">Canada<\/st1:country-region><\/st1:place>, as well as supporting the implementation of the company\u2019s store reimage and rationalization programs. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Financial Focus:<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">Syms Corp.<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\"> said it is mulling selling itself and other strategic alternatives as the company continues to struggle after acquiring Filene\u2019s Basement in 2009.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><u>Mergers and Acquisitions:<o:p><\/o:p><\/u><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><br \/><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">The Jones Group Inc.<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\"> acquired <b>Kurt Geiger<\/b>, Europe&#8217;s largest luxury shoe retailer based in the <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">United Kingdom<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>. The acquisition positions Jones as one of the world&#8217;s most powerful portfolios of fashion footwear. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">KKR &#038; Co.<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\"> has agreed to acquire <b>Academy Sports + Outdoors<\/b> and its 131 locations.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><u>Industry Insight:<o:p><\/o:p><\/u><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><br \/><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">Gap<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\"> <b>Inc. <\/b>entered the Italian outlet center market, opening a Gap outlet store at the <st1:placename w:st=\"on\">Vicolungo<\/st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st=\"on\">Outlet<\/st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=\"on\">Center<\/st1:placetype> near <st1:city w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Milan<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>. Gap currently operates more than 370 stores through its outlet channel. Over the last four years, Gap\u2019s international outlet store base has increased over 500% across the <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\">United Kingdom<\/st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\">Canada<\/st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Japan<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>. Gap plans to grow this channel further with about 25 additional international stores in 2011 and through new market entries, such as <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">China<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> in 2012.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">Liz Claiborne Inc.<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\"> announced the Liz Claiborne distribution center in <st1:place w:st=\"on\">West Chester<\/st1:place> will close within the next year.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">Skechers USA<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\"> announced it has signed a licensing agreement with Street Flyers LLC to produce sporting goods and safety gear collections for children and young adults. Both collections are planned to launch in toy and mass market retailers throughout the <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\">United States<\/st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Canada<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> in spring 2012.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><u>Real Estate:<\/u><br \/><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">Abercrombie &#038; Fitch<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\"> has renewed its lease, committing to its shop in <st1:city w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">London<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> for another 10 years and also plans to launch its first childrenswear store in the capital.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">Burberry Group<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\"> announced plans to tear down and replace its <st1:street w:st=\"on\"><st1:address w:st=\"on\">Michigan Avenue<\/st1:address><\/st1:street> flagship store in <st1:city w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Chicago<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> in favor of a bigger, more dramatic store. During the renovations, the store will move across the street into the Shops at <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:placename w:st=\"on\">North<\/st1:placename>  <st1:placetype w:st=\"on\">Bridge<\/st1:placetype><\/st1:place>. The new store is scheduled to be completed in fall 2012. The company also has revealed that it plans to upgrade its stores in Hong Kong and <st1:city w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">London<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">Cabela\u2019s Inc.<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\"> announced the opening of its most recent store located on the Tulalip Tribes Indian reservation in <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:city w:st=\"on\">Tulalip<\/st1:city>,  <st1:state w:st=\"on\">WA<\/st1:state><\/st1:place>. The 110,000 sq. ft. store is expected to open in 2012.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">Fendi <\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">plans to increase its number of stores in <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">China<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> from 16 to 20 by the end of 2012. The new stores will include one in <st1:city w:st=\"on\">Beijing<\/st1:city>; one in <st1:city w:st=\"on\">Tianjin<\/st1:city>; one in <st1:city w:st=\"on\">Shenyang<\/st1:city>; and a second store in <st1:city w:st=\"on\"><st1:pl\n\nace w:st=\"on\">Guangzhou<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>. The stores likely will be no more than 6,500 sq. ft. in size.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">Kohl&#8217;s Department Stores<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\"> announced Tuesday that it will create 700 to 800 jobs at its customer service operations center in <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:city w:st=\"on\">San Antonio<\/st1:city>, <st1:state w:st=\"on\">TX<\/st1:state><\/st1:place> on top of the more than 1,000 positions it previously announced it would fill by\u00a02013. The three-story, 90,000 sq. ft. building is slated to open next spring.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">Prada SpA<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\"> recently announced its plans to open 70 more stores in Asia by 2014, 30 of which will be located in <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">China<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>. Prada hopes to expand into the Middle East, <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\">Russia<\/st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Brazil<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><u>Green Initiatives:<\/u><br \/><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">REI<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\"> increased its carbon emissions by 7.3 percent last year, less than the company\u2019s 14 percent sales growth, according to its fifth annual stewardship report.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">Sears<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\"> says its Canadian stores are making one of the world\u2019s largest replacements of inefficient lighting. More than 130,000 inefficient incandescent spotlights are being replaced with LED lighting in all <st1:placename w:st=\"on\">Sears<\/st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st=\"on\">Home<\/st1:placename> and full-line stores across <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Canada<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>. Sears says the switch will reduce its electricity use by more than 16 million kWh per year.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">Sears Canada also announced that it would be the first national retailer in <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:country-region w:st=\"on\">Canada<\/st1:country-region><\/st1:place> to ban the sale of incandescent and halogen lighting.The company was recently named Energy Star Retailer of the Year by government agency Natural Resources Canada for the fourth year in a row.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Personnel Updates: Bluefly, Inc. announced that Joseph C. Park has been appointed as CEO. Kate Spade announced that it will open a new full-line store in Seattle\u2019s Pacific Place. The store will be 1,632 sq. ft. and will be the first Kate Spade store in the state of Washington. Kate Spade currently has 66 locations&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chainstoreguide.com\/offthechain\/2011\/06\/department-stores-and-apparel-industry-alerts-june-2011\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Department Stores and Apparel Industry Alerts &#124; June 2011<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"post-template-no-sidebar.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[6,11],"class_list":["post-363","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-apparel-department","tag-csg-old","tag-eupdate","entry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chainstoreguide.com\/offthechain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/363","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chainstoreguide.com\/offthechain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chainstoreguide.com\/offthechain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chainstoreguide.com\/offthechain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chainstoreguide.com\/offthechain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=363"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.chainstoreguide.com\/offthechain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/363\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chainstoreguide.com\/offthechain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=363"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chainstoreguide.com\/offthechain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=363"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chainstoreguide.com\/offthechain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=363"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}