Finance & Capital Management

Meriden, Conn. -- Vestis Retail Group, which operates Bob’s Stores, Eastern Mountain Sports and Sport Chalet, has Susan J. “Sue” Riley to CFO.

Riley brings 30 years of financial management to her new role at Vestis, where she worked on a consulting basis as interim CFO in recent months.

The deep freeze hitting much of the United States this winter helped Fred’s improve its same store sales from the prior year, with cold weather product departments performing well in February.    Fred's total sales for February, not adjusting the closed stores, decreased 2% to $154.1 million from $157.4 million in February 2014. Same store sales for the month were approximately flat versus a decrease of 2.2% in February last year.  

Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen declared 2014 an outstanding year and it is easy to see why after the nation’s leading supermarket operator again surpassed performance expectations.

Mahwah, N.J. - Ascena Retail Group Inc. has named board member Randy L. Pearce to the newly created role of lead independent director. As lead independent director, Pearce will preside at executive sessions of the independent directors, will serve as liaison between the independent directors and the chairman of the board and between the independent directors and senior management, and will call meetings of the independent directors.

Brooklyn, N.Y. - Etsy Inc., the popular online bazaar where people sell artsy goods and handmade crafts and clothing, has filed a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed initial public offering (IPO) in which it hopes to raise at least $100 million.

The labor dispute at the West Coast ports and harsh winter weather are among the reasons Conn's reported a drop in same store sales for February.

Conn's said same store sales dropped 5.8% in February, compared to a 14.9% increase in the prior-year period.

Cincinnati -- Bloomingdale’s will open an outlet store in fall 2015 in the heart of Manhattan’s Upper West Side. It will be the 14th Bloomingdale’s Outlet store and the first in a major urban center.

With 25,000 sq. ft. on three levels, Bloomingdale’s Outlet on Broadway will offer a range of off-price apparel and accessories, including women's ready-to-wear, men's, children's, women's shoes, fashion accessories, jewelry, handbags and intimate apparel.

Petland has hired a former Walmart executive as vice president of corporate stores as the pet supply retailer looks to expand its national footprint. 

Although Tony Samples last worked at Walmart in 2006, Petland touted his Walmart experience in a news release. "Tony brings extensive retail experience to Petland at a time when Petland is expanding its retail footprint," said Petland President and CEO Joe Watson. Samples will lead Petland's retail store division and oversee the company's merchandising and marketing efforts.