The big retailers alone, meanwhile, reported generally improved sales last month, with the discounters and apparel chains doing the best.

Among the 10 most active Big Board stocks, the Limited women's apparel chain rose 1/2, to 18 7/8.

Milton Petrie, who owns 60.2 percent of the women's apparel chain, is considering acquiring the shares he does not own.

Discounters and apparel chains showed the best results.

The result: Sales at department stores have been increasing, while many mall-based apparel chains are struggling.

My dad ran Morrison's, a women's apparel chain that his father had founded.

Another apparel chain, the Gap Inc., also turned in an above-average performance.

Eventually, the Pressmans envision a national apparel chain of at least 25 stores, maybe 100.

The apparel chain also sold 60 percent of its Brylane catalogue unit.

His father was president of Albert's, a women's retail apparel chain that the family sold to Interco.