Finance & Capital Management

Fort Myers, Fla. – Chico's reported a lower-than-expected profit of $51.1 million for the first quarter, excluding non-recurring acquisition and integration costs related to its Boston Proper acquisition, versus a profit of $54 million in year-ago period.

Sales rose 3% to $670.7 million, up 3% from $650.8 million last year. Chico’s, which operates its namesake stores, as well as the Soma Intimates and White House | Black Market chains, attributed much of this boost to the opening of 114 net new stores in the past year.

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Chico FAS's comparable sales for the first quarter ended May 4 were flat compared to a nearly 10% increase in last year's first quarter, thanks to an unusually cool spring and the cycling of strong comparable sales last year.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Footwear and accessories retailer DSW reported net sales for the first quarter ended May 4 of $601 million, an increase of 7.7% from $559 million for last year's first quarter. Comparable sales for the quarter decreased by 2.4%, following an increase of 7.6% during the 13-week period ended April 28, 2012.

NEW YORK — Tiffany & Co. has appointed former Cartier executive Anthony Ledru as the company’s SVP of Northern America.

“As a member of the senior management team, Anthony will drive sales results in our largest region, composed of the United States and Canada, while contributing a key voice to the articulation of the global brand,” said EVP Frederic Cumenal.

IRVINE, Calif. — Tilly’s comparable store sales for March and April improved over February for the first quarter ended May 4, buoyed partly by the spring break and pre-Easter periods.

The company’s total net sales were $109 million, an increase of 13% from $96,524 for the first quarter ended April 28, 2012. Comparable store sales, which include e-commerce sales, increased 1.1% compared to the first quarter of 2012. E-commerce sales were $12.6 million, an increase of 16% compared to the first quarter of 2012.

ST. LOUIS — Brown Shoe Company Inc. reported a net loss and declining net sales in first quarter 2013 as the company cited the impact of having exited some businesses in the past year.

The retailer experienced a net loss of $10.8 million, compared to net earnings of $1.7 million a year earlier. Net sales declined about 1% to $588.7 million from $598.2 million.

However, Brown Shoe said that taking $10.4 million in net sales from exited brands during the first quarter of last year into account, net sales actually slightly improved this year.

New York -- Consumer confidence climbed to the highest level in more than five years, according to The Conference Board. The group’s closely-watched sentiment index rose to 76.2 in May, the highest since February 2008, and up from a reading of 69.0 in April.

The expectations index jumped to 82.4 in May from 74.3 in April to mark the highest level in seven months. The present situation index rose to 66.7 from 61.0. The share of consumers expecting more jobs to open in the next six months increased to a five-month high.

New York -- Tiffany & Co.’s net income rose a better-than-expected 3% to $83.6 million in its first quarter, up from the prior year’s $81.5 million, boosted by sales improvement across all its regions, particularly Asia. Global same-store sales rose 8% during the quarter.

The earnings bump came on a 9% worldwide net sales increase to $895 million. In the Americas region, total sales rose 6% to $408 million. Same-store sales rose 3% with relatively stronger growth in the New York flagship store.

Merrimack, N.H. -- Brookstone announced the appointment of William E. Watts as the company's new executive chairman of the company's board of directors, effective immediately.

Watts has been a partner of J.W. Childs Associates since June 2001. Previously, he was president and CEO of GNC from 1991 until 2001.