More Than 225 Gap, Banana Republic Stores to Close This Year

US Rolls Out Free App for Alerts on Vehicle Recalls

DETROIT—The U.S. government’s road safety agency is offering a smartphone app that will alert drivers if their vehicles are recalled. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was scheduled to roll out the free app for both Android and Apple phones Thursday. Owners key in or scan their 17-digit vehicle identification number, and the app will search the agency’s database for recalls. If there is one, the app will send an alert, the agency says. People also can add child seats, trailers, and tires, and the app will check those for recalls. Private services such as Carfax already offer similar apps for vehicle recalls, but this is a first for NHTSA, which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Owners already can go to https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls and check the NHTSA database…

The Gap and the Banana Republic will close more than 225 stores in 2020, the firm said in an earnings release (pdf) on Thursday.

The company was already planning on closing some stores this year, but reports said the 225 number is larger than originally planned.

“Our strong performance in the second quarter reflects the customer response to our brands, products and experiences, particularly as we’ve rapidly adapted to the changing environment. We nearly doubled our ecommerce business, with approximately 50 percent online penetration, demonstrating our ability to pivot to a digitally-led culture,” said Sonia Syngal, chief executive officer of Gap Inc., in the release. “I’m confident that our purpose-driven lifestyle brands, size and scale, and advantaged digital capabilities are helping us win now and position us for growth in the future.”

The release noted that net sales were down 18 percent year-over-year, but it noted a 95 percent increase in online sales, which was offset by a 48 percent decline of in-store sales.

It noted that a number of stores were closed earlier this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic triggered by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

According to Business Insider, Gap Inc. operates around 1,600 Gap and Banana Republic stores in the United States, while it operates about 3,800 stores in 42 countries overall.

“The management team and our Board are highly engaged and attuned to investor considerations and looking at the portfolio considering all opportunities for value creation,” Syngal added. “What I will say is that what’s different about us today is that we are a leaner, faster, more focused Gap Inc. than prior. And I have never felt stronger than I do now in this moment that these four brands have the right to grow and that we expect to see tremendous potential within the portfolio. That’s what we’re focused on, and we’re focused on unlocking that value through strong execution, not divesting it.”

Focus News: More Than 225 Gap, Banana Republic Stores to Close This Year

Trump Set to Deliver ‘Tough Speech’ on Biden to RNC: Campaign

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump is set to excoriate Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in his speech on the final night of the Republican National Convention. Tim Murtaugh, the Trump campaign’s communications director, said the media has generally “ignored or glossed over” many of the criticisms of Joe Biden’s record, whom he called an “empty shell” of a candidate. “So we’ve determined that the only way, the best way to really punch through is if the president delivers this message himself,” Murtaugh told media on an Aug. 27 call. “Tonight, the president will deliver a tough speech because Americans have tough choices in front of them. And we really feel that unless the president does it, the media will be tempted not to cover it.” Murtaugh said Trump will deliver two distinct…