Strategy

Fort Worth, Texas -- Westwood Contractors Inc. is expanding its presence with office space in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Previously, Westwood built a strong presence in the West Coast region, serving clients for 21 years through a regional office. After a one-year hiatus, the firm’s new location intensifies its connection and commitment to the area, according to the company.

Lumber Liquidators has formalized its compliance and sustainability team headed by Raymond Cotton, who was appointed as chief compliance and sustainability officer in February and reports directly to president and CEO Robert M. Lynch.

Cotton manages the company’s quality assurance, sustainable sourcing, loss prevention, risk management and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements of global trade.  

Undeterred by bad weather and competitive pressures that took a toll on its first quarter performance, Dollar General is pressing ahead with plans for 700 new stores, recently opened its 12th distribution center and believes its full year profit forecast is attainable.

Fort Wayne, Ind. -- Vera Bradley announced that Karen Peters has been named executive VP, retail and wholesale sales.

Peters has 25 years of retail experience including multi-store management and merchandising. Between February 2005 and March 2014, she served as senior VP, director of stores for Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th. Prior to that, she held key management positions with Sears, Target, and Kohl's.

New York -- The Seattle City Council on Monday unanimously voted to raise the minimum wage in the city to $15 an hour, making it the highest municipal minimum wage in the country. The measure, which takes effect on April 1, 2015, will be phased in over the next three to seven years depending on the size of the business, with a slower process for small businesses.

Dallas -- Tuesday Morning Corporation announced that Susan H. Davidson has joined the company as senior VP marketing. She succeeds Ross Manning in this capacity, who has left and is pursuing other professional opportunities.
 

Vera Bradley has named Karen Peters as EVP, retail and wholesale sales.

Peters has 25 years of retail experience including multi-store management and merchandising. Between February 2005 and March 2014, she served as SVP, director of stores for Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th. Prior to that, she held key management positions with Sears, Target and Kohl's.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. -- Dollar General Corp.’s first-quarter profit and sales missed Wall Street estimates as the retailer cited an “unfavorable’ winter, increased competition and economic challenges. The company said Tuesday its profit rose to $222.4 million, from $220.1 million year ago. The retailer also reiterated its plans to open 700 stores in fiscal 2014, and remodel, to varying degrees, another 900 existing locations.

Net sales rose to $4.52 billion, from $4.23 billion. Same-store sales rose 1.5% in the quarter.