Finance & Capital Management

Duluth Trading Company continues to grow its sales and store footprint.    The retailer of men’s and women’s workwear, casual clothing, and accessories reported that net sales increased 21.9% to $83.7 million in the quarter ended April 30, up from $68.6 million in the prior-year first quarter. It was the company's 29th consecutive quarter of increased net sales year-over-year.  

India tops an annual list of the 30 top developing countries for retail investment, pushing China, which took the No. 1 spot for the past several years, into second place.  

J.C. Penney is determined to become college-bound co-eds’ shopping destination for all of their dorm room needs.  

As Sears Holdings continues to struggle, the chain has once again updated is restructuring plan.   The embattled retailer has added 72 more stores to its list of upcoming closures. This is in addition to more than 180 closings that it already an-nounced, according to Business Insider.   

At Home reported a strong first quarter, helped by the addition of 23 new stores the chain opened in the past 12 months — and there are more on the way.   

It’s closing time for Bebe Stores.   The struggling apparel retailer said on Wednesday, June 7, that it reached agreement with substantially all of its retail store landlords to terminate their existing leases. The cost to terminate the leases is estimated to be approximately $65 million.  

Macy’s is toying with a lofty idea that could create more traffic at its Herald Square store in New York City.  

Williams-Sonoma's West Elm division has tapped a company veteran as its new president.    Alex Bellos, head of Williams-Sonoma's Rejuvenation and Mark and Graham brands, is succeeding Jim Brett as president of the West Elm brand. On Tuesday, Brett announced he was resigning from the company to take a position as CEO of J.Crew.   

Increased online and offline competition is giving arts and crafts leader Michaels Cos. a run for its money.   The company's profit fell 20% to $67 million, or 38 cents a share, in the first quarter ended April 29, down from $85 million, or 34 cents a share, a year ego. Its results missed analysts' expectations.    Total sales were flat at $1.16 billion, also less than expected. Same-store sales fell 1.2%  

The vacated Whispering Pines Mobile Home Park in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, will be filled with retail by a local developer building centers large and small along the Rhode Island border.   The still nameless project makes the fifth center that Johnston, Rhode Island-based Carpionato Group has under development in the area. They range in size from 53,000 sq. ft. of GLA at the Shoppes at Mayfaire in Attleboro to 830,000 sq. ft. at the Stonehill Marketplace power center in Johnston.