Marketing

Hibbett Sports beat the Street on profit in the first quarter, but missed on sales.   The retailer on Friday reported better-than-expected first-quarter earnings of $27.9 million, compared with $27.4 million in the year-ago period. Revenue for the quarter ended April 30 totaled $282.1 million, up from $269.8 million last year.   Comparable store sales increased 1.1%.  

Columbus, Ohio-based Nationwide Realty Investors’ $650 million Grandview Yard development has consistently been in the news over the past several years, as prominent components of the mixed-use project continue to fall into place and new buildings come online.  

American Eagle Outfitters announced that Kyle Andrew has been appointed executive VP, chief marketing officer, effective June 6.   Andrew served as senior VP, brand director for Kate Spade Saturday from 2013 through 2015. She joined the company in 2008 as head of global brand marketing and played an integral role in the re-positioning of the Kate Spade brand from a $100 million handbag company to a billion dollar global lifestyle brand.  

New-build shopping center construction was plodding last year — discounting the outlet category, which continues to grow at record speed. And, yet, sometimes one has to look at the quality of what is coming out of the ground — or expanding — and not just the quantity.

Nordstrom Inc. is known for providing the best customer experience, and is now applying that ethos to its customer loyalty program.

The department store retailer is expanding its Nordstrom Rewards loyalty program to allow members to earn benefits regardless of how they choose to pay for purchases across its store, outlet store or digital channels.

With a young, trend-conscious customer base, Forever 21 needs to cater to shopper demand, in and out of the store.

The Los Angeles-based, 760-store-plus specialty apparel retailer is extending this seamless, customer-centric approach to how it offers customers credit. Forever 21 is partnering with marketing and loyalty solutions provider Alliance Data Systems Corp. to provide private label and co-branded credit card services that are integrated with its loyalty program.

Not all teen apparel retailers are struggling. Just ask American Eagle Outfitters.

The company reported a better-than-expected rise in quarterly sales and profit as demand for its products rose even amid a sluggish retail environment.

American Eagle’s net income surged 39.3% to $40.5 million, or 22 cents per share, in the quarter ended April 30.

Net revenue increased 7% to $749.4 million. Same-store sales increased 6%, on top of a 7% increase in the year-ago period.

While other retailers make news by posting grim first quarter results and closing stores., the nation’s leading off-price retailer is making headlines by doing just the opposite. Amid strong first quarter results that included a 7% rise in same-store sales, TJX Cos. said it plans to open about 150 more stores during the rest of this year, on top of the 47 stores it opened in its first quarter.

Ace Hardware took home "record" first quarter revenues of $1.2 billion in the first quarter, an increase of 4.3% over last year. The message was a little more muddled for earnings. Though its first quarter net income of $26.1 million was down 12.7% year-over-year, that figure was still 12.0% ahead of plan. It was also a planned reduction owing to the timing of promotions.

Online reviews, for better or worse, are a permanent part of online reputation marketing for most businesses. Retailers, service providers, franchises, law firms and other professionals hang on every star given by customers. But not all online reviews are the same. In a comprehensive dive into the numbers provided by businesses, the following five conclusions were drawn from the data. 1. Star Ratings Are Important to Searchers