Corporate Governance

Target hits the bulleye in first quarter
Target’s efforts to revamp its product assortment are apparently paying off for the company, which reported a nearly 52% surge in first quarter profit on strong sales of fashion, home and beauty products.

The company posted a profit of $635 million for the three months that ended May 2. Same store sales rose 2.3%, beating forecasts. Revenue rose 2.8% to $17 billion. Online sales rose nearly 38%.
A&F exec named Big Lots general counsel
A legal veteran of Abercrombie & Fitch and Harvard Law grad has been named general counsel for Big Lots.

Ronald "Rocky" Robins Jr. becomes SVP general counsel and corporate secretary at Big Lots. Robins will be a member of the executive leadership team of the company and report directly to David Campisi, CEO and president.

Etsy blames Q1 loss on restructuring

Expenses related to a corporate restructuring led Etsy Inc. to report a huge loss in the first quarter.
Housing recovery lifts sales at Lowe's

The rebounding housing market lifted Lowe's financial results in the first quarter, although not as much as Wall Street expected.
Staples first quarter profit drops 39%

Traffic problems continued to hinder Staples in the first quarter even as the company awaits regulatory approval of its merger with Office Depot.
Ace Hardware is still surging

A month after being named America's favorite home improvement store, Ace Hardware reported record profit in the first quarter of 2015.
Kohl's confirms off-price store in New Jersey

Kohl’s is testing the off-price waters by opening a discount store in Cherry Hill, N.J., this summer called "Off Aisle by Kohl's," the company has confirmed.
American Eagle soars past expectations

Improved, "costumer-focused" merchandising helped American Eagle Outfitters post record net income in the first quarter.
'&' marks the spot for Smart & Final campaign

Smart & Final is launching a new marketing blitz that puts its use of punctuation front and center.

The rollout will include print, radio, television and outdoor advertising in select markets and digital outreach now through July 3. The new campaign aims to tell the story of what the value-oriented food and staples retailer has become through its growth initiatives and will highlight the company's heritage.
Walmart to expand vet hiring program

Walmart is more than doubling the number of veterans it plans to hire by the year 2020.
Etsy releases first earnings report, net loss grows

Brooklyn, N.Y. – Etsy Inc., the online marketplace for handmade goods, has released its first-ever earnings report, which shows growth in both net loss and revenue. Net loss increased substantially to $36.6 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2015 from $500,000 the same quarter the prior year.
The Limited offers in-store pickup for online purchases

Columbus, Ohio - The Limited is launching a new program called Reserve Online, Ready In-Store, that allows customers to shop TheLimited.com and place items on hold for purchase and pick-up at their local store. Reserve Online, Ready In-Store is available at The Limited's nearly 225 full-line retail store locations across the U.S.

This full-scale launch follows a successful pilot in select stores in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio, markets.