Events

Total U.S. shopper traffic in retail stores and malls for October 2012

Columbus Day and Halloween have historically brought more shoppers to stores in October. This year, however, the month saw a 4.1% decrease in retail foot traffic compared with September. October 2012 did manage to narrowly continue a trend of year-over-year improvements by posting a 1.4% increase in retail foot traffic when compared to the same month last year.

Cincinnati – Macy’s on Wednesday reported a better-than-expected 4.3% increase in third-quarter net income, helped by sales gains, and slightly raised its full-year profit outlook.  

Macy’s also announced that it will discontinue reporting monthly sales, beginning in fiscal 2013. Sales will continue to be reported quarterly, along with earnings and cash flow.

New York -- Hurricane Sandy is being held responsible for reducing U.S. retail sales in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast region by about $4 billion last week, according to MasterCard Advisors SpendingPulse.

According to the report, the region, which accounts for about 24% of retail sales nationwide, typically generates $18.7 billion in sales for that particular week ended Saturday, the Associated Press reported. But revenue came in at about $15 billion. (The figures exclude auto sales.)

New York -- Saks Inc.’s Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th announced that it plans to open its doors in Livermore, Calif., on Nov. 8.

The new 28,132-sq.-ft. store is located in Paragon Outlets, a new outlet facility located 36 miles east of the heart of San Francisco, which will open in conjunction with Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th on the same day.

TORONTO — Ahead of its 2013 debut, Target is building its presence in Canada with a new partnership with the Toronto Fashion Incubator for the annual TFI New Labels Fashion Design competition celebrating and supporting up and coming Canadian designers. 

The winner will receive $25,000 and the chance to create an exclusive collection to be sold in Target stores across Canada in 2014.

UNION BEACH, N.J. — In partnership with the American Red Cross, beginning Nov. 6, the P&G Mobile Relief Center will be stationed in Union Beach, N.J., to provide showers, personal care kits, household products — including Bounty, Charmin, Tide and Dawn — and baby products, including Pampers diapers and wipes, to victims of Hurricane Sandy, Procter & Gamble announced Monday. This service will be free to all victims, responders and their families.

NEW YORK — Beauty company L'Oréal Paris has recognized the charitable work of 10 women — including Montgomery County district attorney Risa Vetri Ferman, the cofounder of Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center — by distinguishing them as "Women of Worth" and giving them $10,000 each for their individual charities.

New York -- Ralph Lauren Corp. is shuttering its Rugby division, Crain’s New York reported.

The preppy-inspired Rugby brand, targeted at a young audience, was launched in 2004. It has 14 locations.

“We continue to believe that we can service the millennium Rugby customer with brands such as Denim & Supply and Club Monaco,” said Roger Farah, president and COO, on the company’s recent earnings call.