Strategy

Before Lululemon and many others started selling "athleisure" apparel, Juicy Couture started the trend in the 1990s. Now the brand and retailer plans a comeback. 

The company says it expects to open 133 stores (through its various licensing partners) during the next five years, according to Women's Wear Daily. Juicy will open 31 international locations in eight countries this year, the report said. Three of the countries — India, South Africa and Azerbaijan — will be new market entries for the brand.

Bolingbrook, Ill. -- Ulta Beauty is running strong. On Thursday, the fast-growing beauty products and services retailer posted fourth quarter profit and revenue that topped Wall Street expectations, including an 11.1% jump in same-store sales. It also announced plans for 100 net new stores in fiscal 2015, for a 13% increase in total square footage.

Ulta reported net earnings of $87.3 million for the quarter ended January 31, up 21.6% from $70.7 million in the year-ago period.

The acquisition of JoS. A. Bank is weighing on the financials at Men’s Wearhouse, which posted a decline in profits for the fourth quarter.

Men’s Wearhouse reported a quarterly loss of $35.9 million, or $0.75 per share, versus a year-ago loss of $30.4 million, or $0.64 per share. Excluding non-operating items, the company lost $0.03 per share, versus a year-ago loss of $0.38 per share. Its net sales surged 66% to $928.4 million.

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has integrated the Visa ReadyLink instant fund service into its Rapid Reload network of prepaid card programs. Now Visa reloadable prepaid cardholders can add funds to their general purpose reloadable (GPR) cards at participating Wal-Mart stores.

Fremont, Calif. – Men’s Wearhouse reported a loss of $35.9 million for the fourth quarter, compared with a loss of $30.5 million in the year-ago period, weighed down by costs related to its June 2014 acquisition of Jos. A. Banks.

Net sales increased 66% to $928.4 million from $560.6 million, aided by the addition of revenue from Jos. A. Bank.

By brand, same-store sales increased 6.8% at Men’s Wearhouse stores, 8.6% at Moores and 6.8% at K&G. Sales fell 6.6% at Jos. A. Bank.

Walmart Executive Vice President of Global Customer Insights and Analytics Cindy Davis has been confirmed as a featured speaker for IRI’s upcoming Summit.

Nashville, Tenn. – Positive traffic and conversion rates helped Kirkland’s Inc. increase net income during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 26% to $15.6 million, from $12.3 million in the year-earlier period. Net sales increased 14.5% to $178.7 million, from $156.1 million.

Same-store sales, including e-commerce sales, increased 8.2%.

The strong sales momentum at Kirkland's during the holidays apparently held through January, as the retailer just reported a big jump in same store sales for the fourth quarter. 

The company increased net income during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 26% to $15.6 million, from $12.3 million in the year-earlier period. Net sales increased 14.5% to $178.7 million, from $156.1 million. Same-store sales, including e-commerce sales, increased 8.2%.