Corporate Governance

The Tile Shop paved the way for continued growth in the fourth quarter, with an increase in same store sales and profits.

For the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, the specialty retailer reported a 9.8% same store sales increase, a 70.4% gross margin increase, and diluted earnings per share of 7 cents. Net sales grew 13.5% to $71.9 million for the fourth quarter compared with $63.3 million for the prior year quarter. 

Build-A-Bear Workshop on Tuesday said it will continue to diversify its store portfolio — including the opening of a branded experience on a cruise ship — as the chain announced disappointing results for its fourth quarter.

The retailer reported a better-than-expected profit of $20.6 million for the quarter, ended January 3, 2016, compared to net income of $11.8 million in the year ago period.

For pizza retailer Papa John’s International Inc., successful customer delivery begins with successful delivery in the supply chain.

Papa John’s is optimizing routes, improving on-time store deliveries and enhancing the performance of its transportation fleet by using transportation modeling capabilities from the Manhattan Associates Transportation Management Solution.

Traffic and conversion troubles led to a same store sales decrease for fashion retailer Bebe in the second quarter.

For the period ended Jan. 2, net sales decreased 5% to $122.4 million, as compared to $128.9 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2015. The net sales decrease was primarily driven by a comp decrease and store closures. Same store sales decreased 2.5% compared to an increase of 8% in the same period of the prior year. Traffic and conversion declined while average unit retail was flat.

Two top merchandising and supply chain executives have been given new responsibilities at J.C. Penney after veteran executive Ken Mangone retired following a lengthy career.

Mangone served as executive VP of product development, design and sourcing and will retire effective April 1 after 39 years with the company. His responsibilities will be split among two current executives.

Tailored Brands, formerly Men’s Wearhouse, vowed more changes after its Jos. A Bank division logged a 31.9% decline in same store sales.

Nordstrom continues to expand north of the border.

The retailer announced that its Nordstrom Rack off-price division will open its first Canadian location, in Toronto, in 2018.

The 38,600-sq.-ft. store will be located at One Bloor in Yorkville, on the southeast corner of Yonge Street and Bloor Street, a well-known shopping district in Toronto. It will be approximately one mile north of the Nordstrom full-line store, which is scheduled to open in September 2016 at CF Eaton Centre.

Bold, curious and accountable is the future Target’s new chief human resources officer said she looks forward to helping create.

Eleven year Target veteran Stephanie Lundquist was elevated to the role of executive VP and chief human resources officer, arguably one of the most important positions in a company with nearly 350,000 employees and 1,800 stores.