Finance & Capital Management

Build-A-Bear Workshop is still expecting a third consecutive year of positive same store sales despite a decline in traffic over the holiday period.

On a preliminary basis, for the fourth quarter ended Jan. 3, the company said it now expects:

New York & Co. was able to rise above headwinds from unseasonable weather during the holidays to an increase in same-store sales.

The company says same store sales increased 1.6% during the holiday period and that it expects same-store sales for the full quarter to increase in the low single-digit percentage, in line with the company’s previously disclosed guidance.

Photo: Jack Ma and Howard Schultz, China Partner Family Forum

In an effort to control cost, Aeropostale is reducing its corporate headcount by 13% and CEO Julian Geiger is relinquishing one million stock options that will be doled out to others for retention purposes.

The mall-based specialty retailer of casual apparel for young women and men plans to eliminate 100 corporate position by the end of its 2015 fiscal year and said the move would save between $35 million and $40 million annually.

Miami -- Taubman Centers announced that it has decided not to move forward with an enclosed regional mall that was slated to be part of the Miami Worldcenter mixed-use, urban development in Miami. Instead, Taubman, in conjunction with The Forbes Company and Miami Worldcenter’s master developer, Miami Worldcenter Associates, is now pursuing a high street retail plan that will better utilize the unique characteristics of the site and the market.

Another batch of retailers released holiday results this week and provided further evidence that an unusual blend of economic factors and evolving shopping behaviors made for a strange holiday season.

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet is raising its full year outlook after the discount retailer holiday strategy delievered strong sales growth.

The company annouced that net sales over the holidays increased 23%, while same store sales increased 5.6%.