International Business

SAN FRANCISCO — Williams-Sonoma reported that net income for the quarter ended May 1 jumped 62% to $31.6 million, from $19.5 million a year earlier, topping company expectations.

Revenue rose 7.4% to $770.8 million, better than expected.

Same-store sales, which includes direct-to-consumer revenue, rose 9%. Same-store sales rose 3.1% at the namesake brand, 7.9% at Pottery Barn and a record 11% at Pottery Barn Kids.

Everett, Wash. -- Zumiez reported Thursday net income of $1.9 million in the first quarter, compared with a loss of $1.9 million in the year-ago period. The retailer said it plans to open 44 new stores in fiscal 2011, including its first stores in Canada.

The results for the first quarter of fiscal 2010 include costs of approximately $1.2 million associated with the relocation of the company's distribution center from Everett, Wash., to Corona, Calif.

Sales at Walmart’s international division increased 11.5% to $27.9 billion, aided to a large degree by a $1.3 billion currency exchange benefit, without which the sales increase would have been a more modest 6.2%.

San Francisco -- Williams-Sonoma reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended May 1 jumped 62% to $31.6 million, from $19.5 million a year earlier, topping company expectations.

Revenue rose 7.4% to $770.8 million, better than expected.

Same-store sales, which includes direct-to-consumer revenue, rose 9%. Same-store sales rose 3.1% at the namesake brand, 7.9% at Pottery Barn and a record 11% at Pottery Barn Kids.

New Albany, Ohio -- Abercrombie & Fitch Co. said Wednesday that overseas strength pushed its net income to $25.1 million for the first quarter, compared with a loss of $11.8 million a year earlier.

As previously reported, revenue rose 22% to $837 million, helped by a 64% surge in international revenue.

Framingham, Mass. – Staples reported Wednesday that first-quarter profit rose 5% to $198.2 million, compared with $188.8 million a year earlier. Results were boosted by overseas strength and increased buying by small businesses in North America.

But results were softer than expected, and the company cut its full-year earnings guidance. Its earnings outlook for the second quarter and the year are below Wall Street estimates.

Revenue rose 2% to $6.18 billion, from $6.06 billion a year ago. Same-store sales slipped 1%.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Bath and Body Works announced that it has named Nick Coe, formerly president of Lands' End, as its new CEO. The current CEO of Bath and Body Works, Diane Neal, will remain in her role as CEO through summer and then transition into an advisory role with the company from San Francisco. 

Belfast, Ireland -- A report in the Belfast Telegraph Tuesday said that Wal-Mart-owned supermarket chain Asda has released plans to open its first George stores overseas as it looks to turn the fashion label into a global retail brand.

The chain has set up a team at George's Lutterworth, Leicestershire base to explore entering into franchise arrangements for the first time. According to the report, George expects to announce its first partner in the Middle East in the next few months, followed by store openings in the first half of 2012.