Winter Holidays

Fire safety presents extra challenges to retail locations. Stores are filled with combustibles that aid the spread of fire and smoke. And confusing store layouts impede escape during emergencies. The results can be expensive: loss of revenue from store closures, and worse, loss of life.

Chain Store Age spoke with three leading fire safety experts as to what steps retailers could take to avert fire disasters. Here are their top 10 recommendations.

1. WATCH THE STOCK

DALLAS — Zale Corp. reported increased revenues and earnings for its second quarter ended Jan. 31, thanks to a successful holiday season.

The company reported that revenues for the quarter were $664 million, an increase of $37 million, or 6%, compared with $626 million in the same period last year. 

Comparable-store sales, which are based on year-over-year merchandise sales, increased 5.8% during the quarter. This increase follows a 7.9% rise in the same period last year. 

Dallas -- Zale Corp. posted a higher second quarter profit helped by a surge in holiday sales. Net profit rose to $28.8 million, from $27.2 million a year ago.

Overall revenue rose 6% to $663.8 million. Same-store sales rose 5.8%.
 

Atlanta -- The Home Depot Inc.'s fiscal fourth-quarter earnings rose 32% to $774 million, compared with a profit of $587 million in the year-ago period. The retailer noted that mild weather throughout parts of the United States gave homeowners the chance to work on homes projects in the winter.

Cincinnati -- Macy’s net income in the three months ended Jan. 28 rose a better-than-expected 12% to $745 million as the chain, buoyed by strong holiday and online sales. The company has now seen net income rise in three straight quarters.

ATLANTA — Boosted by mild temperatures and spring-like selling conditions throughout much of the country, Home Depot saw sales rise nearly 6% in the fourth quarter.

The home improvement giant reported fourth-quarter sales of $16.0 billion, up 5.9% from the same quarter last year. Comparable store sales were positive 5.7%, and up 6.1% in the United States.

"We had a strong finish to 2011, and with favorable weather, our business delivered results that exceeded our expectations," said CEO Frank Blake. 

NEW YORK — In honor of the 2012 Academy Awards, Tiffany & Co. has engaged the services of celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe to create a window display that highlights Hollywood glamour from the 1930s through the 1970s. 

Zoe’s windows are unveiled at Tiffany & Co. flagship stores in New York City, Beverly Hills, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore and London.

WAYNE, N.J. — When Tom Hanks danced across FAO Schwarz's giant piano in the movie "Big," it established the store's iconic status. Now celebrating its 150th anniversary, FAO Schwarz honor its legacy with in-store events, commemorative product offerings, a showcase of brand archives and an enhanced website that together will present the brand’s storied history.