Seasonal

Santa Barbara, Calif. – Shopper activity rebounded in March 2014 from the prior month, but traffic and engagement lagged compared to March 2013. In-store retail analytics provider Euclid, released its monthly retail benchmarks report to analyze shopper activity and behavior during the month of March, measuring data from tens of millions of domestic shopping sessions.

Atlanta – Havertys reported a 2.5% drop in sales during the first quarter of fiscal 2014 compared to the same period in the prior year, falling to $181.4 million from $186.1 million. Same-store sales declined 0.9%.

Clarence H. Smith, chairman, president and CEO of Havertys, said severe winter weather did not negatively impact all of Havertys locations.

For the fifth consecutive year, Amelia Island Florida is offering exclusive savings to Harris Teeter VIC (Very Important Customer) cardholders through a partnership between the Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) and Harris Teeter.

Available April through December 31, VIC cardholders will receive discounts at 25 businesses, including Amelia Island hotels, restaurants, activities and shopping.

Friendswood, Texas — The 1.2-million-sq.-ft. Baybrook Mall in Houston is getting another 550,000 sq. ft. The mall owner, General Growth Properties, and the landowner, a CDC Houston-managed entity, have formed a joint venture to carry out he project. Work will begin in early May and completed by the 2015 holiday season.

When the winning team cuts down the net after Monday night at the NCAA Men’s Championship game they will do so from atop a customer built nine foot Werner brand step ladder.

New York -- Modell’s Sporting Goods will open a store in midtown Manhattan, near Madison Square Garden, on April 4.

The store is the retailer’s 156th location.

By Shelley E. Kohan, VP, retail consulting, RetailNext; instructor, Fashion Institute of Technology

Consumer confidence is 10 points higher than this time last year. Spring weather forecasts show April will be warmer than average for many areas. So, how can retailers optimize sales during this season? Learning from last year’s data and trends is a great place to start.

Atlanta – The Home Depot's fifth annual Spring Black Friday starts April 3. For the next 11 days, prices on hundreds of spring products will be significantly reduced, including a variety of live goods, soils, mulches and lawn care supplies; outdoor power tools; gardening products; patio and grills.

"This spring and every season, The Home Depot aims to bring the latest tools to market to make the to-do list easier and simpler," said Dana Hudson, The Home Depot senior merchant.

Hampstead, Md. – Jos. A. Bank Clothiers posted a profit of $27.4 million for the fourth quarter, down from $28.4 million in the year-ago period. The retailer’s earnings were impacted by legal and professional costs related to its upcoming acquisition by The Men’s Wearhouse and other strategic moves.

After a strong start to the holiday season, harsh weather took a toll on Jos. A. Bank which reported solid profit growth and a 1.8% same store sales increase during what is likely to be one of the company’s final earnings reports as a public company.