Corporate Governance

Starbucks Corp. reported profit for the second quarter that exceeded expectations, but it disappointed on sales. The chain also offered a third-quarter earnings outlook that was shy of forecasts.

For the quarter ended March 27, Starbucks reported $4.99 billion in sales, up 9% from $4.56 billion in the year-ago period. Although sales set a new record for a non-holiday quarter, they but still fell short of analyst estimates of $5.03 billion.

Net income rose 18% to $575.1 million on strong U.S. sales.

Troubled teen retailer Aeropostale Inc. has been dealt another blow.

On Friday, the New York Stock Exchange suspended trading of the retailer’s stock with immediate effect, due to an "abnormally low" trading price.

Aeropostale does not intend to appeal the delisting. It said its shares will instead be traded on the OTCQX Best Market, an over-the-counter market operated by OTC Markets Group Inc. The new ticker is "AROP".

Inspired by the history of Hollywood, Starbucks has set up shop at Universal Boulevard, a new main street-styled retail destination at Universal Studios Hollywood.

The façade of the 5,000-sq.-ft. store is broken up into multiple buildings, as if it had originally been the site of several small shops. The interior is fashioned as one grand space. A banquette made of reclaimed black walnut wood curves like a siren’s tale, creating seating eddies.

Sears Holdings announced its latest round of store closings as it continues to look for ways to cut expenses and return to profitability after five years of losses.

The embattled retailer, which has been steadily shrinking its physical portfolio over the last few years, will close 68 Kmart and 10 Sears stores this summer. (See list of locations at end of story.) In February, Sears warned it would speed up the closing of unprofitable stores.

Macy's chose Earth Day to give an update on its ongoing solar power deployments.

The retailer, in a 10-year partnership with SunPower Corp., has deployed SunPower solar systems at, or planned for, 71 Macy's and Bloomingdale's locations in 10 states, totaling approximately 39 megawatts.

Fifty SunPower systems are operating to date, and the company is contracted to install its technology at 21 additional Macy's and Bloomingdale's facilities this year.

Starbucks has brought its small-sized store format to the Windy City.

The coffee giant has opened a 635-sq.-ft. Starbucks Express cafe in Chicago's Union Station. This is the company’s fifth location to date for its Express concept, which features a streamlined menu that focuses on brewed coffee, espresso beverages and select food items.

The other Express stores are located in New York and Toronto.

The Finish Line said that John Hall will join the company in mid-May as executive VP, divisional president and chief merchandising officer.

Hall, a 30-year Nordstrom executive, most recently served as VP, corporate merchandiser of Rack Menswear.

At Finish Line, Hall’s focus will span across consumer engagement touchpoints including stores and digital operations, merchandising and strategies involving the company’s product vision. He will drive the retailer’s brand growth strategies.

They say everything is bigger in Texas, and that also applies to Amazon.com’s distribution network.

The digital retailing giant plans to open a sixth Texas fulfillment center in Haslet, making it the fourth Amazon fulfillment center in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Amazon currently employs more than 8,000 full-time hourly associates at its Texas fulfillment centers and plans to create 1,000 more full-time positions in the new Haslet facility when it opens.