Finance & Capital Management

Despite posting a sales increase in July, Conn's says nearly 10% of its customers are not paying their bills.

"Greater than 60-day delinquency was 9.2% as of July 31, 2015 compared to 8.7% as of July 31, 2014. Greater than 60-day delinquency as of July 31, 2015 increased seasonally compared to the June 30, 2015 rate of 8.9%," said Theodore M. Wright, Conn’s chairman and chief executive officer.

Luxury handbags seem to be as common these days as smartphones, and therein lies the problem for rival brands Coach, Michael Kors and Kate Spade, who all reported quarterly results this week.

As these three luxury heavyweights battle it out against brand saturation and bored shoppers midway through the year, it seems as though only Kate Spade has all the right moves.

The shopping public's appetite for sexy underwear is apparently unsatiable, if the results from L Brands are any indication.

Off-price shop Stein Mart's strategy of just the right product, at just the right price, at just the right time seems to be working as the retailer reported another quarterly increase in same store sales.

Stein Mart Inc. reported rising total sales in the second quarter ended Aug. 1. Total sales for the quarter rose 4% to $311.6 million, from $298.1 million. Same store sales for the quarter rose 3%.

Sally Beauty Holdings is feeling the impact of its data breach.

Costs related to a data breach discovered in May, as well as higher selling, general and administrative expenses, helped reduce profit at Sally Beauty during the third quarter of fiscal 2015. Net earnings fell 8% to $62.46 million, from $67.76 million the same period a year earlier.

Net sales rose 2% to $967.89 million, from $949.27 million. Same-store sales increased 2% in the Sally Beauty Supply division and 5.6% in the Beauty Systems division.

Build-A-Bear's recent push to reinvigorate its fading brand seems to be working as the retailer reported a big increase in same store sales in the second quarter. 

The former CEO of American Airlines has been named to the board of directors of Home Depot Inc.

Things really aren't as bad as they seemed a few weeks ago for Costco, which just reported a sizable increase in same store sales for July.

The CEO of Fred's says its stellar sales for July reflect the success of the company's expanded pharmacy business.

Cleveland – Stark Enterprises announced the addition of Stark Capital Group. The new division will provide comprehensive real estate capital markets solutions with an emphasis on equity and debt placements, principal acquisitions and asset management. 

Nico Bolzan will serve as executive director of SCG. Bolzan will lead efforts to raise both equity and debt financing through a variety of private and institutional capital sources on a national level.