Seasonal

The CEO of Party City said the earlier Easter holiday hurt its second quarter traffic as the retailer reported a loss.

In the second quarter ended June 30, the party supply retailer said same-store sales rose 1.2%, shy of analysts' forecasts for growth of 2.8%. The company also posted a loss of $23 million, or 20 cents a share, compared with a profit of $2.5 million a year earlier. Overall, sales rose nearly 1% to $495.5 million in the quarter. 

Kohl’s has joined other major retailers this week reporting disappointing earnings and anemic same store sales growth.

The Wisconsin-based retailer posted a profit of $130 million in the second quarter ended Aug. 1, below the $232 million in the prior-year quarter. Earnings per share were 66 cents, compared with $1.13 in the second quarter of 2014. Same store sales grew a measly 0.1%. Overall revenue increased by just 0.6%, to $4.27 billion for the quarter.

Minneapolis -- Target Corp. is reaching out to fashionistas with a splashly — and digital-savvy — insert in the most important issue of the world’s most influential fashion magazine.

Hhgregg says it is trying to get ahead of an ever-earlier holiday shopping season by starting to hire seasonal employees now.

The retailer plans to hire more than 550 full-time and part-time in-store sales associates. As the holiday shopping season continues to tiptoe earlier into the calendar year, Hhgregg is looking to have their stores fully staffed and associates trained and ready to greet shoppers getting a jump on the holiday rush.

Indianapolis -- The calendar may read August, but Hhgregg is already looking to firm up its holiday hiring.

The appliance, electronics and furniture retailer announced it is hiring 550 full-time and part-time in-store sales associates. As the holiday shopping season continues to tiptoe earlier into the calendar year, Hhgregg said it is looking to have their stores fully staffed and associates trained and ready to greet shoppers getting a jump on the holiday rush.

Washington, D.C. — Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 3.6% in August 2015 from the same month in 2014 as retailers begin to bring in merchandise for the holiday season. According to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates, imports for the year are expected to be up 4.2% from 2014.

Kroger and Eckrich came together with a special guest this week to honor -- and surprise -- a U.S. veteran.

The retailer and Eckrich hosted NASCAR driver Aric Almirola at Kroger headquarters to give medically retired Army Specialist John Dietz and his family one year of free groceries at Kroger.

Lynnwood, Wash. – Specialty sports retailer Zumiez Inc. had a fizzling July. Net sales decreased 2% to $61.4 million, from $62.8 million the same four-week period a year earlier. Same-store sales dropped 7.6%.