Retail Stores

Body Central is going out of business and will close all its stores, according to an attorney for the women's clothing retailer. As of Jan. 6, the Jacksonville, Fla.-based company had 265 stores in 28 states. Gardner Davis, an attorney for the company, said it had about 2,500 employees, who were notified of the closures Friday. Davis said the company had sought to reorganize its business, but "simply couldn't raise the capital."

U.S. holiday sales grew at their fastest pace in almost a decade, lifted by a strengthening economy and consumers spreading out their purchases over a longer season, according to ShopperTrak. Holiday spending over November and December jumped 4.6 percent versus the same period last year, beating ShopperTrak’s prediction of 3.8 percent, the research firm said today in a report. That was the best performance since 2005, before the last recession, when sales gained 5.2 percent.

PVH announced that it will close its Izod retail division, with the closing expected to be completed by the end of fiscal 2015. The closure of the retail business isn't expected to impact the company's growing Izod wholesale business. The Izod retail division currently operates approximately 120 stores. Approximately 20 stores will be converted to formats under Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger nameplates, with the remaining stores to be closed. 

J.C. Penney will close about 40 stores over the next year, according to a company spokesman. The closures will impact less than 4 percent of Penney's total store base and approximately 2,250 associates, according to spokesman Joey Thomas. Most locations will close on or about April 4, Thomas said. Penney's currently operates about 1,060 stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. "We continually evaluate our store portfolio to determine whether there's a need to close or relocate underperforming stores," Thomas said. "Reviews such as these are essential in meeting our long-term goals for future company growth."

The downfall of Wet Seal took another step forward Wednesday when the retailer announced it will shutter 338 stores. The store closings bring the termination of around 3,695 full- and part-time employees. After the closures, Wet Seal will have just 173 stores remaining, along with its online business. "This was a very difficult decision to make, but after reviewing many other options since I returned to the company in September, our financial condition leaves us no other alternative than to close these stores," CEO Ed Thomas said in a statement. 

Is Target headed towards the same fate as Sears? Analysis of the discount retailer's latest numbers suggest it's possible. According to a Seeking Alpha report, Target reported a small revenue decline on Oct. 31 of last year compared with the year prior; the firm declared $73.7 billion in TTM revenue, compared with $73.81 billion the same period in 2013. While the drop is far from catastrophic, the numbers show a more troubling picture when held up against Target's top rivals. Wal-Mart, Kroger and Costco all reported multibillion-dollar revenue increases in the same period.

Beleaguered teen retailer Wet Seal sparked a social-media firestorm among its workers after some learned that their stores were closing down with apparently little warning. Photos of handwritten signs taped up at some Wet Seal storefronts with hashtags such as #ForgetWetSeal and

C. Wonder, the preppy clothing and gift chain founded by billionaire Chris Burch, is closing all its stores, having failed to find a market for its kitschy mid-priced womenswear, home goods and  knick-knacks. "Due to the highly competitive nature of the current retail environment, C. Wonder will be closing its remaining stores," spokesperson Daniela Maron told Forbes. "The company continues to .

Inside the gleaming mall here on the Sunday before Christmas, just one thing was missing: shoppers. The upbeat music of "Jingle Bell Rock" bounced off the tiles, and the smell of teriyaki chicken drifted from the food court, but only a handful of stores were open at the sprawling enclosed shopping center. A few visitors walked down the long hallways and peered through locked metal gates into vacant spaces once home to retailers like H&M, Wet Seal and Kay Jewelers.

Say what you will about regifting. Like it or not, it's entirely possible a present you received this year is destined for the regift pile-or eBay -because exchanging it for cash, or even store credit, isn't an