Seasonal

Houston -- The Men's Wearhouse reported Wednesday a loss of $14.1 million for the quarter ended Jan. 29, narrowed from a loss of $18.8 million in the year-ago period.

The retailer, which sells suits and rents tuxedos, offered a 2011 forecast of adjusted profit that would beat Wall Street projections.

Revenue increased 18.6% to $542.1 million. Same-store sales rose 4.3% on strong tuxedo-rental revenue.

Indianapolis -- Hhgregg Tuesday announced the grand opening of a new location at the Chapel Hill Mall, Akron, Ohio, on March 10.

The new store will replace Hhgregg’s older location in Akron, Ohio.

“The store’s new location and design will provide shoppers in the Akron area with a modern, convenient shopping experience,” said Jeff Pearson, VP marketing, Hhgregg. “We hope that shoppers will come into the store to see the new layout and take advantage of grand opening specials.”

WASHINGTON -- With Easter falling in late April this year, retailers are without a major holiday to boost March sales, and many are expecting weaker sales this month. However, thanks to St. Patrick's Day, which falls on March 17, retailers have the help of this micro-holiday.

Washington, D.C. -- Total spending on St. Patrick’s Day festivities is expected to hit $4.14 billion this, according to NRF’s 2011 St. Patrick’s Day Consumer Intentions and Actions survey, conducted by BIGresearch. The survey found that 52.4% of Americans will celebrate the Irish holiday, up from 45.2% last year and the most in the survey’s eight year history.

ATLANTA -- Home Depot's fourth quarter saw positive comp-store sales for the fifth straight period. Kitchens and gardens were among the highest-performing categories.

According to Home Depot's Craig Menear, EVP merchandising, the departments that outperformed the company average were kitchens, outdoor garden, indoor garden, electrical and tools.

Comparable-store sales for the company increased 3.9% for the three months ended Jan. 30. For stores in the United States, comp sales were positive 4.8%.

For a company so often on the leading edge of offering its shopper affordable fashions in the apparel and home categories, there is one area where Target has been slow to keep pace with the prevailing trend.

Shanghai, China -- Mattel announced Monday that it has closed its much-acclaimed Barbie flagship store, which opened March 2009 in Shanghai.

The El Segundo, Calif.-based toy manufacturer, which officially closed the store’s doors on Monday, cited a change in strategy as reason for the closure. Mattel said in a statement that it plans to promote the Barbie brand via road tour -- on a pink tour bus.

New York City -- Many retailers reported better-than-expected sales in February amid milder mid-month temperatures in many parts of the country. But some warned of a weaker March due the timing of the Easter holiday. Analysts also cautioned that rising fuel prices may damper consumer spending going forward.

The Thomson Reuters Same-Store Sales Index rose 4.2% in February, topping estimates for a 3.6% increase, and also rising higher than in the year-ago period.