Marketing

SAN FRANCISCO — Target has agreed to buy Chefs Catalog from JH Partners, LLC, a private equity firm specializing in investing growth capital in consumer-focused companies. 

Chefs Catalog is a leading direct-to-consumer specialty retailer of top-rated cookware, bake ware, cutlery, kitchen tools and cooking utensils including such brands as All-Clad, Cuisinart and Kitchenaid.  JH Partners acquired Colorado Springs, Colorado-based Chefs Catalog from The Neiman Marcus Group, Inc. in 2004. 

NEW YORK — Aeropostale reported that net sales for the fourth quarter decreased 1% to $797.7 million, from $808.4 million in the year ago period. Fourth quarter comparable sales, including the e-commerce channel, decreased 8% compared with a 7% decrease for the corresponding 14-week period of the prior year.  Fourth quarter comparable store sales, excluding the e-commerce channel, decreased 9%, compared to a decrease of 9% for the corresponding 14-week period of the prior year. 

Armonk, N.Y. -- IBM on Thursday announced the creation of the IBM Customer Experience Lab, dedicated to helping business leaders transform the way customers experience their products, services and brands through the use of mobile, social, cloud and advanced analytics technologies.

The IBM Customer Experience Lab will provide CEOs, CMOs, CFOs, heads of sales and other C-suite executives direct access to a virtual team of 100 researchers, supported by the expertise of thousands of IBM business consultants addressing the opportunities of the digital front office.

Nashville, Tenn. -- Kirkland's announced that Robert Alderson, the home decor retailer's long-time president and CEO, intends to retire at the end of fiscal 2013, or approximately Feb. 1, 2014.  

In November, Kirkland's said that Alderson was taking a temporary medical leave of absence for six to eight weeks for a non-emergency medical procedure. Mike Madden, Kirkland's SVP and CFO, served as acting president and CEO during that time.

Houston -- The Men's Wearhouse Inc. posted a larger-than-expected loss for its fiscal fourth quarter. The retailer also announced that it was exploring the possible sale of its weaker performing K&G unit.

The company lost $3.4 million for the quarter that ended Feb. 2, compared to a loss of $3.8 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue rose 8.2% to $608.4 million. Revenue from Men's Wearhouse stores, which made up 61% of the quarter’s sales, rose 9.1%.

New York -- Google came out on top, followed by Amazon and Apple, in a new survey by market research company Ipsos called “The Most Influential Brands in the United States 2013.” The survey, which asked U.S. consumers to rate 100 leading brands on a wide variety of attributes, determined that the dimensions or factors that drive a brand’s influence are: engagement; trustworthy; leading edge; corporate citizenship; and, presence.

BOLINGBROOK, Ill. — Ulta Beauty has named Scott Settersten CFO and assistant secretary, effective immediately. Settersten will report to Dennis Eck, interim CEO.

Settersten has been acting CFO and assistant secretary since October 2012. He previously served as VP accounting since 2010 and was responsible for accounting, tax and external reporting. In that role, he also oversaw investor relations and worked closely with the audit committee and board of directors. He joined Ulta Beauty in January 2005 as director of financial reporting.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Express, a specialty retail apparel chain operating more than 620 stores, reported that fourth quarter net sales increased 8% to $728.7 million from $673.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. Comparable sales increased 1.5%, following a 5% increase in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Net income was $63.9 million, or 75 cents per diluted share. This compares to net income of $60.4 million, or 68 cents per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2011.

First quarter same store sales are expected to increase in the high teens at Cabela’s and drive earnings substantially higher than analysts’ estimates, the retailer said late Tuesday in advance of an investor conference today.

Cabela’s reported a firearms and ammunition driven 12% same store sales increase for its fourth quarter ended December 29, 2012. When those results were released a month ago the company said the favorable trends seen in the fourth quarter had accelerated into the first quarter.

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Office Depot, announced that it has won two Silver Stevie Awards in the seventh annual Stevie Awards for sales and customer service. 

Office Depot was honored with Silver Stevie Awards for e-commerce customer service, which recognized Office Depot’s expanded chat services for web customers and the telesales team of the year.