Charming Shoppes to Keep Figis, Close ShoeTrader

As part of an effort to divest non-core assets and reduce operating costs, Charming Shoppes, No. 98 in the Internet Retailer Top 500 Guide, has decided to close ShoeTrader.com during the second half of its current fiscal year, which runs through January 2010, the company says. It also has explored the possible sale of its Figi’s food-gift business, which includes paper catalogs as well as the Figis.com e-commerce site.

Charming Shoppes entered into discussions regarding a possible sale of Figi’s, but was unable to get the price it sought for the Figi’s operation and brand, a company spokeswoman says.