Corporate Governance

Fast-growing teen retailer Five Below grew even faster in the third quarter, as the company reported an increase in same-store sales and raised its outlook.

For the period ended Oct. 31, same store sales increased 4.8%. Net sales increased by 23% to $169.7 million from $138 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014. Net income was $4.3 million, compared to $3.3 million. Diluted income per common share was 8 cents, compared to 6 cents per share in the third quarter of fiscal 2014.

Big Lots narrowed its loss in the third quarter as the retailer attracted more shoppers to its stores with new merchandising and marketing strategies.

For the period ended Oct. 31, Big Lots reported a loss of $1.5 million, or 3 cents a share, compared with $3.4 million, or 6 cents, a year earlier. Same store sales increased 2.6% Revenue edged up less than a percentage point to $1.12 billion.

Barnes & Noble’s new CEO Ron Boire, who took the reins of the company in September, wants to transform the chain into a “lifestyle brand” by expanding its selection of toys, games, gadgets and other gifts, according to a report in The New York Times.

The newspaper quoted Boire as saying that “Everything we do around learning, personal growth and development fits our brand. There’s a lot of opportunity.”

Amazon drones may still be in the future, but Amazon trucks are ready now.

According to Re/Code, Amazon.com has purchased thousands of trailers that it will deploy in shipments along its supply chain, but not to customer homes. The branded trailers storing Amazon merchandise will be pulled by tractor trucks provided by existing third-party transportation partners.

These shipments will occur between Amazon fulfillment centers and other internal fulfillment centers or sortation centers. At least for now, Amazon trailers will not be used for any customer deliveries.

Ulta Beauty's formula of one-stop shopping for prestige, mass and salon beauty products continued to produce impressive sales and earnings growth in the third quarter.

Ulta' s net income increased 20.2% in the quarter, to a better-than-expected $71.1 million, from $59.1 million in the year-ago period. Total sales rose 22% to $910.7 million, also more than expected. Online sales surged 56.3% to $46.2 million. Same-store sales were up 12.8%, driven by a 10.6% increase in transactions and 2.2% growth in the average ticket.

Staples is willing to sell more assets to win antitrust approval for its $6.3 billion takeover of Office Depot, Bloomberg reported on Thursday. According to the wire service, representatives from Staples and Office Depot are meeting this week with Federal Trade Commission officials ahead of a Dec. 8 deadline for the agency to decide whether to approve the deal. [Bloomberg]

An entertainer, actor and television personality — who also happens to be the ex-husband of recording star Mariah Carey — has been tapped as the creative head of the reborn RadioShack.

The chain announced it has hired Nick Cannon as its chief creative officer. And he won’t just be a figurehead or celebrity pitchman, according to the company.

Rockville, Md. -- Federal Realty Investment Trust announced the addition of Ramsey D. Meiser to the newly created position of senior VP of mixed-use development reporting to executive VP of development Donald Briggs.

Dollar General Corp. missed Wall Street projections for sales in its third quarter, but the chain came out on top again in its earnings. It also named a permanent CFO.

The discounter on Thursday posted its fifth consecutive quarter of double-digit earnings growth. It was the third consecutive quarter that Dollar General beat the Street's projection for earnings.

Amazon.com is noted for a focus on operational efficiency that is intense, to say the least. However, as the Seattle Times reports, Amazon consistently ranks near the top of customer service rankings by using customer service agents and technologies to ensure customer satisfaction, not rapid turnover. [Seattle Times]