Strategy

Philadelphia -- Urban Outfitters reported Monday that net income for the quarter ended Jan. 31 dipped slightly to $75 million, compared with $77 million in the year-ago period.

For the full year, profit rose to $273 million from $220 million a year earlier.

Fourth-quarter net sales rose 14% to $668 million. Same-store sales for the quarter increased 4%. By brand, same-store sales rose 1% at Anthropologie, 28% at Free People and 5% for Urban Outfitters.

By Joseph R. Bona, [email protected]

CHICAGO -- KitchenAid announced that it is introducing a new collection of premium hand blenders at the 2011 Home and Housewares show. The line is scheduled to be available in the fall and will include 2-, 3- and 5-speed models carrying suggested manufacturer's suggested retail prices of $39.99, $59.99 and $99.99, respectively.

London -- Online sales club Privalia Venta Directa, S.L. said Monday it will acquire Dress for Less, a German online fashion retailer, from Palamon Capital Partners, a pan-European private equity firm.
 
The acquisition will be funded through a combination of $123 million of new equity provided by equity firms General Atlantic, Highland Capital Partners, Index Ventures and Insight Venture Partners.
 
Dress for Less founders Mirco Schultis and Holger Hengstler will become significant shareholders in Privalia.

Los Angeles -- Guess announced Monday that it has appointed Nancy Shachtman as its president of North America, reporting to Paul Marciano, CEO and vice chairman.

Shactman was previously president of Guess Inc. Wholesale. In her new position, she will oversee the North American retail operations for Guess and Guess by Marciano, as well as Guess Wholesale, including Mexico.

Suffern, N.Y. -- Dressbarn parent Ascena Retail Group announced Monday it has named John Pershing as senior VP human resources over Dressbarn, with additional responsibilities for Ascena Retail Group’s compensation, benefits and human resources information system.

Pershing will report to Jeff Gerstel, executive VP and COO, effective immediately. Pershing succeeds David Montieth, who announced his retirement after 20 years with the company.