Strategy

It doesn’t really surprise me anymore when I hear about another national brand rolling out a smaller store format or compact new prototype. Recognizable names like Target, Walmart and Best Buy have all had some success with smaller formats, particularly when it comes to penetrating new markets. But I think the fact that Kohl’s has now joined the crowd is a little bit different — and a little bit more interesting.

Columbus, Ohio -- DSW Inc. reported Tuesday that profit for the fourth quarter rose to $19.4 million from $200,000 a year earlier, beating analysts’ estimates for the quarter.

Fourth-quarter revenue rose 10% to $513.7 million, surpassing Wall Street’s estimated $511.2 million in revenue. Same-store sales increased 5.6%.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings Corp. announced Tuesday that it has named David Lukes as president, real estate development for the company.

Lukes was previously president and CEO of real estate firm Mall Properties.

Lukes has been charged with leading Sears’ efforts to further develop its real estate assets, including those that are now non-retail.

New York City -- Tiffany reported Tuesday that its fourth-quarter profit slipped to $178.4 million from $181.2 million last year. Revenue met expectations, rising nearly 8% to $1.19 billion.

For the year, net earnings surged 19% to $439 million, and sales rose 18% to $3.6 billion.

The jewelry retailer said it plans to open 24 new stores in 2012, including nine in the Americas, seven in Asia-Pacific, three in Europe and five in the United Arab Emirates. It plans nine new stores in 2013.

Omaha, Neb. -- Apparel and home décor retailer Gordman Stores reported Tuesday that net income for the quarter ended Jan. 28 rose 21.2% to $10.2 million, from $8.4 million in the year-ago period.

Sales increased 10% to $185.1 million. Same-store sales rose 2.1%.

San Mateo, Calif. -- Coupa Software said Monday that sandwich chain Quiznos, India, will deploy its cloud spend optimization software service in the region.

Apollo Elixirs Pvt., Ltd., a master franchisee of Southern India, selected the Coupa for Retail e-procurement solution based on its ability to harness the stores’ collective spend intelligence and predict the future purchasing needs of each Quiznos location.

Cincinnati -- Kroger announced that Tim Brown now will be responsible for stores in western Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri, as president of the company's Delta division.

Brown, 52, has been VP operations in the company's Delta division, based in Roanoke, Va., since 2011. Before that, he served as the Mid-Atlantic division's VP merchandising since 2009.
 

New York City -- J. Crew Group reported Monday that profit for the quarter ended Jan. 28 rose to $15.1 million, from $4 million in the same period last year. Revenues surged 13% to $531 million, and same-store sales rose 6%.

For the full year, the retailer reported a profit decline to $51.5 million, from $121.5 million in 2010. Annual revenues rose 8% to $1.9 billion, and same-store sales increased 7%.

New York -- Retail executives are invited to attend the Microsoft Retail Roadshow, which will be held in the Dallas suburb of Irving, Texas, on Thursday, March 22. The half-day event will explore ways that retailers can increase operational efficiency, lower costs and innovate to drive customer engagement.

The event, which will include continental breakfast, lunch, demos and a partner showcase, will be held at Microsoft, 7000 State Highway 161 (George Bush Turnpike), Building LC1, Irving, Texas, 75039.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target has completed its $10 billion share repurchase program.

The program, which was authorized by the retailer's board of directors in November 2007, represents the repurchase of 193.5 million shares, or nearly 23% of its outstanding shares from that time period, at an average price of $51.68 per share.

Target will continue to repurchase shares under the $5 billion program approved by its board of directors in January, which it expects to complete in the next two to three years.