Marketing

Shoe Carnival credited “favorable weather” with its impressive spike in same store sales in the fourth quarter.

The Indiana-based retailer of moderately priced footwear and accessories reported that net sales in the fourth quarter ended Jan. 31 increased $27.3 million to $227.6 million, compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013. Same store sales increased 9.5%, which exceeded the company’s guidance for the quarter. Earnings per diluted share were 15 cents.

Columbus, Ohio -- On the heels of its announcement that it would open 35 stores in 2015, footwear retailer DSW said Wednesday that 19 of those store openings would occur this spring.

The locations will be nationwide, including 12 new markets.

"We are pleased to grow our footprint in cities DSW already calls home, while also expanding to new areas of the country. Opening 19 stores this season and more throughout 2015 is absolutely thrilling for our brand,” said Carrie McDermott, executive VP and COO of DSW.

Target has been hit with a slew of negative reports recently, and now the retailer is trying to do something positive for its image by making its return policy more shopper-friendly.

Target Corp. announced an enhanced return policy Wednesday covering all of the retailer’s 32 owned and exclusive brands, which extends the return window to one year from the date of purchase. The retailer also rolled out a one-year return guarantee for guests using Target’s baby, college or wedding gift registry.

Williams-Sonoma set a milestone in 2014 that helped the retailer post an impressive jump in same store sales and profit.

The specialty retailer of home furnishing products reported that for the first time ever, e-commerce sales made up more than 50% of all revenues in 2014.

Williams-Sonoma said its fourth quarter net revenues grew 5.2% to $1.542 billion versus $1.466 billion in the prior year quarter. Same store sales grew of 5.1%. Earnings per share grew 13.8% to $1.57 from $1.38 in the prior year quarter.

JCPenney has lost its chief marketing officer at a time when the company has been trying to rebuild its brand image.

PetSmart is hoping to lure more Martha Stewart fans to its stores with a new line of natural, Made-in-the-USA pet products.

The retailer already sells Martha Stewart pet products, but it is now launching the Martha Stewart Pets Treat Shop, a line of oven-baked natural dog treats sold only at PetSmart.

Columbus, Ohio - Nationwide Realty Investors has announced that Nashville, Tennessee-based Dick’s Last Resort will open its first Ohio location in the Arena District in summer 2015. Dick’s Last Resort will occupy 7,300-sq.-ft. in the first floor of a building adjacent to Nationwide Arena and will include an outdoor patio with seating for more than 130 people

New Canaan, Conn. - Stadium Capital Management LLC and its affiliates have notified Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp. that Stadium Capital will nominate three independent candidates to the board of directors of Big 5 at the 2015 annual meeting, expected to be held in June 2015. The nominees are Dominic P. DeMarco, a managing director and co-chief investment officer of SCM and an existing member of the board; Nicholas Donatiello Jr., a consumer, media and technology strategist; and Michael J.