International Business

Dublin, Calif. -- Ross Dress for Less will open its first store in Oakland, Calif. on March 8, bringing the total to more than 250 stores in California, the retailer’s largest state. The new location will be in Foothill Square in Oakland.  

Together, Ross Dress for Less and DD’s Discounts currently operate approximately 1,300 off-price apparel and home fashion stores in 33 states, the District of Columbia and Guam.

Seattle – Holiday markdowns and costs associated with growing its Nordstrom Rack outlet brand and planned entry into Canada had a negative impact on net earnings at Nordstrom Inc. during fourth quarter 2013. Fourth quarter net earnings slipped 6% compared to the same quarter the prior year, to $268 million from $284 million.

Net earnings for the full fiscal year remained almost flat, slightly rising to $735 million from $734 million. Both earnings figures fell short of Wall Street expectations.

Los Angeles — Hong Kong is by far the world’s most expensive city for global retailers. Even so, prime rents in major global markets such as New York, Paris and London continue to break records, according to new research from global property advisor CBRE Group.

Beachwood, Ohio — DDR Corp has published its 2013 Corporate Social Responsibility report, which can be viewed at csr.ddr.com. The report features various initiatives taken by DDR employees throughout 2013

Dublin, Calif. - Ross Dress for Less will open four new locations in the greater Chicago area on March 8, 2014. These openings bring the total number of Chicago area stores to 35 for the retailer.

Seattle - Starbucks Coffee Company has named Starbucks Canada executive VP and president Annie Young-Scrivner as executive VP and president, Teavana. Nine-year retail operations executive and employee resources senior VP Rossann Williams has been appointed senior VP and president, Starbucks Canada.

Teavana founder and CEO Andy Mack, having helped with the integration of Teavana with Starbucks, has decided to retire from the company.

Danbury, Conn. - Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. has appointed Daniel R. Bradley as its senior VP, Furniture Group. Bradley will lead the merchandising and manufacturing operations for the furniture group.

Bradley’s career in the home furnishings industry includes his most recent role at Furniture Brands International Inc. where he served as president designer brands. Prior to assuming that role, Bradley served as the president and CEO of Ferguson Copeland Ltd. and previously was president of Baker, Knapp and Tubbs.

Pleasanton, Calif. – Safeway Inc. is exploring a sale of the company as it reports substantial increases in net income due to its exit from the Canadian market, and smaller increases in net sales for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2014. Although the discussions for a sale are ongoing, the company said it has not reached an agreement on a transaction, and there can be no assurance that these discussions will lead to an agreement or a completed transaction.