Merchandising

Target plans to open its first stand-alone athletic sportswear brick-and-mortar store under the C9 Active Apparel name. The 3,000 square-foot store will open in San Francisco and sell Target's exclusive C9 by Champion collection.

Diapers.com, the one-stop shop for baby essentials, announced the launch of its new Clothing & Shoe Shop at Diapers.com. With more than 30,000 clothing and shoe items, 100-plus brands and sizes ranging from newborn to 5, the shop makes it easy for parents to find everything they need to keep up with their baby's growth. The Clothing & Shoe Shop at Diapers.com offers a wide selection of styles from familiar favorites such as Carter's, OshKosh, Robeez and Crocs, as well as specialty boutique brands like Tea Collection, Splendid, Zutano and Pink Chicken.

Sears and Bonnier Corporation's Outdoor Life announced today they've entered a relationship to launch a line of Outdoor Life-branded sportswear for men, available in over 800 Sears stores nationwide and on Sears.com beginning in September. The exclusive collection is being designed with the all-American "guy's guy" in mind, a loyal customer of both iconic brands. The products will combine utility, comfort and quality for the outdoorsman.

Giovanni Feroce, CEO of Alex and Ani, announced a partnership with Bloomingdale's to create an Alex and Ani "Shop Within a Shop" on the second floor of the retailer's flagship Manhattan store located at 59th Street and Lexington Avenue. The "Shop Within a Shop" is currently displayed and will be up until May 15, however, the collection will continue to be available at the upscale retailer. 

Destination Maternity announced its new broad-based partnership with Bed Bath & Beyond and its subsidiary, Buy Buy Baby. In addition, Destination Maternity expects that its Motherhood Maternity and A Pea in the Pod branded maternity and nursing apparel will be available for sale in select Buy Buy Baby stores beginning in November 2012. As of February 25, 2012, Buy Buy Baby has 64 stores in the United States. 

H&M will open in Mexico City, Mexico in the autumn of 2012. 

Baynote collaborated with the e-tailing group to better understand the current state of e-commerce analytics and identify the key metrics that will drive the industry forward.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has accused Urban Outfitters of selling a T-shirt that resembles the yellow Star of David worn by Jews during the Holocaust. "We find this use of symbolism to be extremely distasteful and offensive, and we are outraged that your company would make this product available to your customers," ADL Philadelphia director Barry Morrison wrote in a letter to the Philadelphia-based clothing retailer's CEO, Richard A. Hayne, according to a report by Gawker on Friday.

GNC Holdings, the nation's largest specialty retailer of health and wellness products, announced a partnership with Academy Award-nominated actor/producer Mark Wahlberg to develop, market and sell MARKED, a new nutritional supplement line designed to meet the demanding lifestyles of active, results-driven fitness consumers who want to get the most out of their workout and improve overall health. "I'm excited to join forces with GNC, a brand I trust for quality and integrity, to develop the MARKED products," said Wahlberg. 

Social commerce company BeachMint is partnering with Justin Timberlake and interior designer Estee Stanley to launch HomeMint, a curated selection of home goods and accessories, one-of-a-kind finds, and art and photography from both established and up-and-coming artists. "HomeMint combines my love of interior design with my passion for technology and innovation to create a brand that not only offers quality products, but also a personalized shopping experience," Timberlake said.