Corporate Governance

Ikea has brought the horrors of the Syrian civil war home to customers at its flagship in Slependen, Norway.   In a joint fundraising effort, the Swedish home furnishings giant, in partnership with the Norwegian Red Cross, has recreated the small, unfurnished apartment of a Syrian mother and her children in the middle of the store. The space is based on a real-life apartment in Damascus, according to CNN.   

Macy’s is expanding its off-price concept, Macy’s Backstage, in a pop-up format.   In a test, the department store retailer is placing Backstage pop-ups in 45 existing Macy's stores in time for the holiday shopping season, the Cincinnati Business Journal reported.  

It’s official: The Finish Line considering selling its specialty running store chain.   The company announced that it is currently exploring strategic alternatives for its JackRabbit division (previously known as Running Specialty Group). The segment includes 70 specialty running stores in 17 states, such as Brooks, ASICS and Hoka One One.  

Dick's Sporting Goods Inc. on Tuesday reported better-than-expected sales and earnings for its fiscal third quarter but tempered its good news with a weak outlook for the fourth quarter.    Dick’s posted net income of $48.9 million for the quarter ended Oct. 31, up from $47.2 million in the year-ago period.   On a per-share basis, the Coraopolis, Pennsylvania-based company said it had profit of 44 cents. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, were 48 cents per share.  

There was a lot for Home Depot executives to like about the company’s third-quarter performance. The company reported sales growth of 6.1% and net earnings growth of 14.1%.   Beyond the numbers, here are some of the key takeaways form the company’s presentation to investors.   • Digital growth

The Home Depot on Tuesday reported sales and earnings for its third quarter that exceeded forecasts.    The world’s largest home improvement retailer posted a double-digit increase in earnings during the quarter, which it characterized as a balanced across-the-board period of growth.    Net sales jumped 6.1% to $23.2 billion, compared to $21.8 billion in the same quarter last year.   Comparable-store sales in the U.S. increased 5.9%. 

The Mall at Prince Georges in suburban Washington, D.C. will welcome a 16,000-sq.-ft. DSW location and an 11,000-sq.-ft. ULTA in second quarter 2017. The signings are part of PREIT’s ongoing strategic plan to re-outfit its centers with “in-demand” retailers.   “The property has just begun its transformation into an elevated, vibrant shopping and dining destination commensurate with the development that has occurred in the surrounding area,” said Joseph F. Coradino, CEO of PREIT.  

Butler Enterprises has named a Gainesville insider to promote and market its Neighborhoods at Butler project in that Florida college town.   The complex’s new director of marketing, Mary Reichardt, arrives at Butler from the Visit Gainseville-Alachua County Tourism Development Office, where she served as marketing chief. There, she created the county’s first brand strategy to establish awareness across the U.S. and in Europe.