Marketing

Urban Outfitters posted sales and earnings for its third quarter that failed to meet analysts expectation amid a traffic slowdown and increased promotions at its Anthropologie and Free People stores.   Urban Outfitters earned $47 million, or 40 cents a share, in the third quarter ended Oct. 31, compared with $52 million, or 42 cents a share, in the year-ago period.   Sales rose 5% to $862 million, compared with $825 million a year ago. Same-store sales, which include online, rose 1%.  

A deluxe men's grooming concept has big plans for expansion through franchising.   The Gents Place plans to open 150 franchised locations over the next five years, in such markets as Texas, Georgia, Florida, California, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland and Virginia. Currently, the company is aggressively targeting Florida, with plans for 18 locations throughout the state.   

Among cities with more than 250,000 residents, Plano, Texas, has the highest median income in the land at $104,000. It’s also one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities, so Eden’s Preston Towne Crossing and Berkeley Square in Plano have expanded and upgraded their food and beverage options in kind.   Recently opened at Preston Towne Crossing are SusieCakes Bakery, a specialist in old-fashioned sweets, cookies, and cakes, and Vom Fass, a purveyor of cask-aged vinegars, oils, wines, and spirits.  

As PetSmart continues to expand its brick-and-mortar presence across North America, it also is working on its next generation store.    The company opened its 1,500th store, in Sheridan, Colorado. One of approximately 80 new locations the retailer is opening in 2016, the 18,000-sq.-ft. Sheridan store offers a full line of pet supply products along with pet training and adoption services and a full-service grooming salon.  

Kirkland's has named its very first COO.    The home décor retailer named Mike Cairnes as executive VP and COO, effective November 28, 2016.   Cairnes brings 25 years of experience in home décor retailing and manufacturing to Kirkland's. He was most recently with Michael's Stores, where he served concurrently as president of its Aaron's Brothers retail business, since 2015, and president of its Artistree framing business, since 2007.    

Furniture manufacturer Herman Miller continues its transformation from a maker of modern office furniture to a lifestyle brand with the opening of its first retail store.     The 6,000-sq.-ft. Herman Miller store is located on the ground and second floors of Herman Miller's flagship building on Park Avenue South in Manhattan. The building houses corporate office space for Maharam, Design Within Reach, and Geiger — all Herman Miller owned companies — along with commercial showrooms for Herman Miller and Geiger.

Things are looking up at Chico’s FAS.   The women’s apparel retailer on Tuesday reported net income of $23.6 million for the third quarter, after reporting a net loss of $11.6 million in the same period a year earlier.   Chico’s had a profit of 18 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to 20 cents per share. The results topped Wall Street expectations.  

Mid-America Asset Management has named Tracee Johnson senior asset manager, investing her with full responsibility for maintaining relationships with retail tenants.   Johnson, a 10-year veteran of Mid-America, will also be responsible for budgeting and operational planning and oversight of the more than 60 million sq. ft. of retail the company leases and manages throughout the Midwest.   Johnson is a licensed real estate broker in Illinois.

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Talk about commitment.   Patagonia announced that its plans to donate 100% of its store and online sales on Black Friday, Nov. 25, to grassroots environmental organizations.   "These are small groups, often underfunded and under the radar, who work on the front lines," Patagonia CEO and president Rose Marcario wrote in a post announcing the company’s plans. "The support we can give is more important now than ever."   

The president of Office Depot’s North American operations is stepping down.   Marc Crosby is leaving the company “to pursue other opportunities,” according to the Sun Sentinel, which cited a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. No date was given for his departure.