Seasonal

SAN FRANCISCO — Pottery Barn Kids, part of Williams-Sonoma’s brands portfolio, has launched its Summer Reading Challenge in partnership with PBS Kids. 

The challenge, which runs through August 26, is designed to promote a love of learning and literacy in kids and their families throughout the summer months. It also draws foot traffic into its brick and mortar stores, and is an exercise in brand awareness, as young children will recognize the brand and associate it with the reading challenge, making them potential future customers. 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Genesco, a specialty footwear and apparel retailer operating numerous brick-and-mortar and online retail brands including Journeys and Lids.com, reported declines in earnings and net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2014.

The company’s earnings declined 11% to $18.5 million from $20.8.

Net sales decreased 1.5% to $591 million from $600 million. Same-store sales fell 4%. Earnings remained slightly ahead of the company’s expectations.

ATLANTA — The Home Depot announced a single-day effort to prepare residents in storm-prone regions for the upcoming hurricane season. On July 27, Home Depot said it will host Hurricane Preparedness Workshops at more than 700 of its stores from the Gulf Coast to New England.

The expansion of the workshops is one of several preemptive measures the company is taking in preparation for 2013 hurricane activity, which is once again predicted to be above average.

Atlanta -- The Home Depot announced a single-day effort to prepare residents in storm-prone regions for the upcoming hurricane season. On July 27, Home Depot said it will host Hurricane Preparedness Workshops at more than 700 of its stores from the Gulf Coast to New England.

The expansion of the workshops is one of several preemptive measures the company is taking in preparation for 2013 hurricane activity, which is once again predicted to be above average.

IRVINE, Calif. — Tilly’s comparable store sales for March and April improved over February for the first quarter ended May 4, buoyed partly by the spring break and pre-Easter periods.

The company’s total net sales were $109 million, an increase of 13% from $96,524 for the first quarter ended April 28, 2012. Comparable store sales, which include e-commerce sales, increased 1.1% compared to the first quarter of 2012. E-commerce sales were $12.6 million, an increase of 16% compared to the first quarter of 2012.

Columbus, Ohio -- DSW Inc. experienced drops in both net income and same-store sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2013. Net income declined about 13%, dropping to $34.5 million from $39.9 million in the year-ago period, amid hefty one-time charges. Its results, however, beat analyst expectations.

For the quarter ended May 4, same-store sales declined 2.4%. In one bright spot, sales rose almost 8% to $601.4 million, from $558.6 million.

Los Angeles – A survey from online shopping site PriceGrabber indicates U.S. consumers are leaning toward practical Father’s Day gifts this year. Almost four-in-10 (38%) consumers plan to purchase practical Father’s Day presents this year, such as tools, auto accessories or appliances.

Nearly one-fifth of respondents (18%) are planning to shop for a tech-type gift such as a computer, tablet or smartphone. Forty-five percent of men plan to buy a practical gift, compared to 33% of women.