Finance & Capital Management

New York -- Kohl’s Department Stores announced the opening of eight stores, bringing approximately 1,000 new jobs nationwide. The company now operates 1,134 stores in 49 states.

The new stores are located in seven states, including Florida, Illinois, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Of the eight locations, seven are small format stores with approximately 64,000 sq. ft. or less of retail space, providing greater real estate flexibility.

SAN FRANCISCO — Williams-Sonoma ended fiscal 2011 with revenue and earnings growth in its fourth quarter. The company reported that net revenues for the fourth quarter of 2011 increased 6.1% to $1.3 billion versus $1.2 billion in the fourth quarter of 2010. The company reported diluted earnings per share on a GAAP basis of $1.17 compared with $1.05 for the same period last year.

Houston -- The Men's Wearhouse reported a net loss of $3.8 million for the quarter that ended Jan. 28, compared with a net loss of $14.1 million a year earlier, as it cut costs and increased prices.

The results beat forecasts, and the company said it expects 2012 income to be higher than expectations.

Revenue was $562.2 million, up from $542.1 million.

New York -- TradeCard, a supply chain collaboration and global trade platform, announced that women’s apparel retailer MS Mode has successfully deployed TradeCard to eliminate costs and improve efficiencies in its global supply chain.

The TradeCard solution allows MS Mode to transition away from agents and handle sourcing in-house without increasing overhead.

New York -- Women’s apparel retailer Maurices plans to open approximately 60 stores this year, according to the Duluth News Tribune. The total includes the chain’s first international location, in Canada.

Maurices currently has 803 stores in 44 states, with the count up 32 stores since June.
 

UTRECHT, Netherlands — Sara Lee Corp. has appointed Luc Volatier as SVP supply chain and operations of its international coffee and tea business effective April 1.  Volatier, 44, will be in charge of all procurement, supply chain and manufacturing operations. He will continue to serve in the same role once the international coffee and tea business is spun-off from Sara Lee Corp. in the first half of 2012.

City of Industry, Calif. -- Hot Topic Inc. earned $9 million in the three months that ended Jan. 28, compared with a loss of $578,000 in the year-ago period, on reduced spending.

Revenue in the fourth quarter slipped 1% to $209.9 million, from $212.4 million. Same-store sales increased 1.3%.

Kearney, Neb. -- The Buckle Inc. said Thursday its fiscal fourth-quarter net income rose a better-than-expected 13% to $56.1 million amid higher same-store sales and growing online demand.

Revenue rose 11% to $337.1 million from $303.1 million. Same-store sales increased 8%. Online sales, which are not included in that total surged 31% to $27.6 million.

Buckle, which also sells tops, shoes and other clothing, caters to teens.