International Business

Walmart Canada president and CEO Shelley Broader’s responsibilities have been significantly expanded to include oversight of Europe and Africa.

Broader was named EVP, president and CEO of Walmart EMEA, a region Walmart defines as including Canada, Europe, the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Columbus, Ohio – A subsidiary of Express Inc. has entered into a franchise agreement with Edcon Group, a retail franchise operator in South Africa, to bring the Express brand to South Africa. The Express brand is expected to launch as a store-in-store concept at select Edgars department stores by the end of 2014 with standalone Express store locations to open in 2015.

Express has identified international expansion as one of the company's four pillars of growth and a significant long-term revenue opportunity for the company.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores announced the promotion of Shelley Broader, currently president and CEO of Walmart Canada, to executive VP, president and CEO of Walmart EMEA, effective June 1. In her new role, she will lead Walmart's retail operations and oversee business development in Europe, the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa and Canada and will report directly to David Cheesewright, president and CEO, Walmart International.

First-quarter sales at Guess fell in North America and Europe. Despite a net loss of $2.1 million, compared with net earnings of $9.9 million in the year-ago period, the company touted strong momentum in its e-commerce business, adding that it remains a key initiative as consumer demand continues shifting to that channel.

Columbus, Ohio – Expenses related to exiting its Canadian operations substantially reduced net earnings for Big Lots Inc. in the first quarter of fiscal 2014. Compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2013, net income fell 90% to $3.35 million from $32.33 million.

Net sales rose 1% to $1.28 billion, from $1.27 billion. Same-store sales rose 0.9%. Big Lots forecasts same-store sales growth of 1%-3% in the second quarter of fiscal 2014, and 1%-2% in the full fiscal year.

New York - Imports to the U.S. were up in April from March. According to data from supply chain research firm Panjiva, April 2014 showed levels of imports that were 9% higher than imports in April 2013. The numbers of these shipments coming into the U.S. changed 11% from March 2014 to April 2014.

Exiting Canada may have taken a bite out of Big Lots’ profits in the first quarter, but the company still saw net and comparable-store sales increase.

Net sales for the quarter increased 1.1% to $1.28 billion, compared to net sales from continuing U.S. operations of $1.26 billion for the same period last year. Comparable-store sales for stores open at least 15 months increased 0.9% for the quarter.

Los Angeles – Guess on Thursday reported a first-quarter net loss of $2.1 million, compared with net earnings of $9.9 million in the year-ago period, as sales fell in North America and Europe.

"First quarter earnings results were slightly better than our expectations,” said Paul Marciano, CEO. “We delivered revenues within the range of our guidance and managed our expenses tightly.”

Sales fell 4.8% at $522.5 million, compared with $548.9 million in the prior year.