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Specialty retailer Express expects to have its first stores in Latin America open by year end. The operator of 600 U.S. stores catering to customers in their 20s and 30s has identified international expansion as a key growth driver. The company, through one of its subsidiaries, entered into a franchise agreement with Fastco Commercial S.A. to open more than 30 stores during the next five years in markets that include Panama, Peru, Costa Rica, Colombia, The Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

As the second part of a business collaboration, Wolverine Worldwide is purchasing a 49 percent stake in Forus' existing Colombian business, Forus SA Colombia, which currently has the rights to Wolverine's Hush Puppies and Cushe brands in Colombia. Forus SA Colombia currently owns and operates 23 retail locations and sells directly to Colombia's most important department stores and specialty footwear retailers.

Gap plans to expand in Latin America after its first namesake store in the region topped sales expectations. The Gap store in Santiago, Chile, which opened in October, was among the leading franchise performers out of 200 stores worldwide, said Stefan Laban, managing director of strategic alliances for Gap.

Zara is involved in accusations of slave and child labor at one of its factories in Brazil. The company’s national suppliers started to be investigated by the Bureau of Labor and Employment in May, when 52 people were found working at a factory under unsanitary conditions, producing pants for Zara Brazil.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (BRAIN)—Timbuk2 has hired Nicole Chabot as international sales director. Chabot brings more than 18 years of business management and international sales experience in both the consumer lifestyle and outdoor industry arenas. “We see tremendous opportunity for international growth for Timbuk2, particularly in Europe and Asia,” said CEO Mike Wallenfels. “With Chabot’s successful track record for growing brands at both a national and international level, she will be a huge asset as we continue to build Timbuk2 as a globally-recognized brand.” Most recently, Chabot served as the director of sales at Carve Designs, where she played an

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