Retail Stores

Gap continues to tweak its operating model in the hope of reversing the trend that put it on a downward spiral in the mid-2000s. During a call with analysts yesterday, company CEO Glenn Murphy revealed Gap plans to close 200 stores by 2013, putting the company's total store count in the U.S. at 700. In 2007, the Gap operated 1,150 stores nationwide. At the same time, Gap plans to step up expansion in the outlet center space for both its Gap and Banana Republic divisions.

J. Crew reported a $29.9 million loss in its fiscal first quarter, compared to a profit of $44.7 million in the year-ago period. The apparel retailer said the loss was due to markdowns to clear out excess inventory and charges related to being acquired. J. Crew went private in March in a $3 billion deal with two private equity firms.

Wal-Mart is planning to expand its test of in-store mobile specialty shops to a total of 350 supercenters this year. The in-house pilot was launched in 200 stores last fall and will be extended to an additional 150 locations this year.

Bailey Banks & Biddle, the legendary jewelry store founded in 1832, introduced a new multichannel jewelry shopping experience with the launch of its new website on the Ignify e-commerce platform.

For most retailers the December holidays are the busiest time of the year. For golf equipment retailers, the weeks leading up to Father's Day is when cash registers ring the most. In fact, Golfsmith traditionally experiences the same high sales volumes in June that mainstream retailers experience during the year-end sales rush. For Golfsmith, it is Christmas time in June.

Disney Store added magic to Canada last month by opening two innovative shopping experiences in Mississauga, Ontario and Burnaby, British Columbia. The Canadian locations feature interactive areas incorporating state-of-the-art technology.

TOMS Shoes announced a new product category — sunglasses. But the glasses won't be distributed in the same way that TOMS distributes its footwear. Instead, the company will work with the Seva Foundation on sight restoration initiatives in Nepal, Tibet and Cambodia.

Listen in as Bernie Brennan, co-author of 
“Branded! How Retailers Engage Consumers With Social Media and Mobility," (with Lori Schafer) discusses how leading retailers Macy's, J.C. Penney and Best Buy are meeting the needs of their customers — and generating revenue — by communicating with them via the web, social media and smartphones. This podcast…

No more fiberboard. No more steel shelves or warehouse design. The Old Navy chain of budget-yet-spunky clothing stores is abandoning its old surplus feel and going with a new look.

In addition to co-opting Warby Parker's business idea, Bluefly's just-launched e-commerce site Eyefly also stole Warby Parker's product shots. It seemed pretty outrageous — not just the big company ripping of the little guy, but to add insult to injury, Bluefly was doing something mean to a do-good organization (for every pair of glasses they sell, Warby Parker donates one pair of glasses to someone in need).