International Business

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Limited Brands reported net sales of $737 million for May 2013, an increase of nearly 10% from $672 million for the same period last year. The company reported a comparable store sales increase of 3% for May from the same period last year. 

For the 17-week period ended June 1, the company reported net sales of $3 billion, an increase of 6% from $2.8 billion for the same period last year. Meanwhile, comparable store sales increased 3% for the 17-week period, versus the same period last year. 

Atlanta -- A just-released report by Jones Lang LaSalle Retail found that three trends — in retail investing, retail expansion and e-commerce — are making national borders increasingly irrelevant to the retail industry. According to Jones Lang LaSalle’s “Global Capital Flows,” retail investment captured 25% of the total global market share of real estate investment in first quarter 2013.

NEW YORK — Everlast Worldwide has rolled out a new professional fight glove. Called the PowerLock Fight Glove, it secures a fighter's hand in a natural fist position via a stable, compact chamber. 

Lightweight and ergonomic, the glove is joins the MX, 1910 and Protex3 in the company’s “elite” professional glove line. The company touts it as a “strong alternative” to boxers looking for a powerful glove.

SPARKS, Md. — McCormick has appointed Lawrence Kurzius as the company’s president, global consumer and chief administrative officer. 

In this role, Kurzius will be charged with McCormick's consumer business globally as well as several of the company's corporate functions, including IT, supply chain, R&D and quality assurance. Kurzius will also chair the Global Consumer Strategy Council in his new role.  

Cincinnati -- Devin I. Murphy has joined Phillips Edison-ARC Shopping Center REIT Inc. (www.phillipsedison-arc.com) as CFO, treasurer and secretary.

“With over 25 years of experience in the real estate investment industry, including executive leadership positions with Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Devin brings significant experience to the company,” said Jeffrey Edison, co-chairman of the board and CEO.

SAN FRANCISCO — The Gymboree Corporation is looking to leverage the rebounding economy and trends for the rest of 2013, following a dip in its net sales for the first quarter ended May 4. 

The company reported net sales of $293 million for the quarter, a 1.7% decrease from $298 million for the first quarter ended April 28, 2012. Comparable sales for the quarter decreased 5% versus the first quarter of the year prior.

Chicago -- During a morning keynote session on Wednesday at the Internet Retailer Conference in Chicago, former Vice President and self-described “recovering politician” Al Gore related a couple of interesting facts about how the Internet is shaping modern commerce. First, he stated that when an online network increases in size its value increases by a squared amount, so that for example a network that doubles its number of users quadruples in value.

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble has grouped its global business units into four industry-based sectors and placed Martin Riant, Deborah A. Henretta, David S. Taylor and Giovanni Ciserani as global heads of each to support the company’s current growth strategies.