Labor & Employment

Sears Hometown and Outlet stores narrowed its loss in the third quarter despite weak sales growth in the appliance and garden categories.

The retailer said same-store sales decreased 1.6% in the third quarter ended Oct. 31. Net sales fell 3.2% to $547.1 million as the company reported a loss of $3.8 million, or 17 cents a share, compared with a loss of $171.2 million, or $7.55 a share, a year earlier.

J.Crew Group didn’t get any relief in its third quarter. On the heels of another decrease in sales and a widening loss, the company is bringing in a former Ann Inc. executive to help turn things around.

J.Crew posted a net loss for the third quarter of $759.7 million, compared to a loss of $607.8 million in the year ago period. (The retailer noted that both this year and last year reflect the impact of pre-tax, non-cash impairment charges of $845.9 million and $684.0 million, respectively.)

Fast-growing teen retailer Five Below grew even faster in the third quarter, as the company reported an increase in same-store sales and raised its outlook.

For the period ended Oct. 31, same store sales increased 4.8%. Net sales increased by 23% to $169.7 million from $138 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014. Net income was $4.3 million, compared to $3.3 million. Diluted income per common share was 8 cents, compared to 6 cents per share in the third quarter of fiscal 2014.

The founder and ousted CEO of the embattled American Apparel is nothing if not determined.

Charney said he has hired Los Angeles-based Cardinal Advisors to evaluate options as he explores plans with new and existing investors and industry executives to revive the company, which filed for bankruptcy in October.

Rockville, Md. -- Federal Realty Investment Trust announced the addition of Ramsey D. Meiser to the newly created position of senior VP of mixed-use development reporting to executive VP of development Donald Briggs.

Everything old is new again at American Eagle Outfitters, apparently with good reason.

The teen apparel retailer on Wednesday named Jay L. Schottenstein as CEO,  effective immediately.   Schottenstein, who has served as interim chief  since January 2014, will also continue in his role as executive chairman of the board. The news of  his appointment came as the retailer reported a strong increase in its third quarter earnings.  It was the chain’s third consecutive quarter of increased sales and profits.

Supervalu on Wednesday announced Eric Claus has been named the CEO of Save-A-Lot, the company’s hard-discount grocery segment. Claus, 59, joins the company after spending the past two-plus years as the chairman, president and CEO of Red Apple Stores, a chain of value retail stores in Canada. 

Strong sales at Maurices and Lane Bryant weren’t enough to lift Ascena in the first quarter, as the company reported a decrease in comps.

For the period ended Oct. 24, the company reported a net loss of 10 cents per diluted share compared to net income of 32 cents per diluted share in the same period of fiscal 2015. The company blamed the decrease on transaction costs related to the acquisition of Ann Inc., which closed during the first quarter fof fiscal 2016. Comps dropped 3% in the first quarter.