Corporate Governance

San Francisco — Gap Inc. posted an 8% decline in its first-quarter profit amid currency fluctuations, merchandise delays from the West Coast ports slowdown, and sluggish sales at its namesake and Banana Republic stores. On a positive note, Old Navy continued its strong performance. 
 

New York — Aeropostale Inc. managed to shrink its net loss in the first quarter of fiscal 2015, even as sales declined. The mall-based specialty retailer reported a net loss of $45.27 million, down from $76.78 million, amid  reductions in selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) and restructuring charges helped cut net loss.
   Net sales dropped 19% to $318.6 million from $395.9 million. Same-store sales, including e-commerce, fell 11%.
 

Framingham, Mass. – Staples Inc. sees Amazon.com as its biggest competitor, and is not shying away from the competition. During a panel discussion at the MIT Sloan CIO Symposium held May 20 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Staples CIO Tom Conophy explained his company’s intentions in its rivalry with the e-commerce giant.

“We’re going after Amazon in a big way,” declared Conophy. “We were an original disruptor in retail but lost our way. We didn’t see the onslaught of Amazon coming.”

Chico's CEO David Dyer, who laid "the foundation for global expansion," will retire next spring, the company announced.

Macy’s is out to prove that bigger is better again this July 4 by sponsoring a fireworks display so massive that barges positioned at two locations on the East River in Manhattan are required to launch 40,000 shells.

The 39th annual pyrotechnic extravaganza is scheduled to last 25 minutes and be seen live by an estimated three million people from viewable locations along the shorelines of Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn.

A new wave of consumers is quickly becoming the most powerful economic force in retail, and it is causing retailers to refine plans on how to meet the needs of this new generation.

While some retailers may see Millennials as a unique group that forces massive change, GameStop sees them as well-informed, independent consumers who are causing us to rise to an even higher level of service.

The Fresh Market says its planned exit from California led to higher costs and lower profit in the first quarter, but analysts say the company may be in trouble.

Office Depot is seeking to attract more veterans and their families to its stores with a new discount program.

The retailer is teaming up with Veterans Advantage to reward active duty and retired military, veterans, National Guard and Reserve, and their families with a 20% discount on office supply purchases. Veterans Advantage discounts are available every day on regularly-priced items and can be combined online with the company’s standard free delivery on qualifying purchases of $50 or more within our local delivery areas.

Just days after announcing that it would be opening several "pick-up points" across Canada, Ikea says it plans to open a massive distribution center in Ontario in October.

Build-A-Bear Workshop is aiming to leverage the popularity of "Minions" with a new, interactive and customizable plush toy collection.