Aeropostale

Austin, Texas -- Isis, the mobile commerce joint venture created by AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless,  announced that Aeropostale, Champs Sports, Dillard’s, Foot Locker, Jamba Juice and Macy’s are among the first national merchants to join with Isis in advancing mobile commerce. The company also announced the first of its local merchant partners across Austin, Texas and Salt Lake City.

Hasbro has partnered with teen retailer Aéropostale for an exclusive line featuring the Battleship and G.I. Joe brands.

The line will include men's graphic t-shirts featuring Battleship and G.I. Joe images ahead of the debuts of "Battleship" on May 18 and "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" on June 29.

Chain Store Age editor-in-chief Marianne Wilson and I go to great lengths to report new store openings on Chainstoreage.com. We pore through convoluted retail financial statements – sometimes twice daily – to uncover news that a chain has its sights set on even a little net new store growth for the year ahead.

I reported earlier today that Urban Outfitters, despite a challenging fourth quarter that saw profits cut nearly in half from the year before, was planning as many as 60 new stores in fiscal 2013.

New York -- Aeropostale Inc. reported Thursday that profit for the quarter ended Jan. 28 dropped to $26.1 million, from $83.8 million a year earlier, hurt by heightened supply-chain expenses.

Revenue dipped 4% to $808.4 million in the quarter, and same-store sales fell 9%. Results edged Wall Street’s expected $807.6 million in revenue.

For the full fiscal year 2011, Aeropostale posted a profit of $69.5 million, compared with $231.3 million last year. Revenue to $2.34 billion, from $2.40 billion in fiscal 2010.

New York City -- Aeropostale said Friday it has appointed seven-year board member Karin Hirtler-Garvey as chairman of the board, replacing Julian R. Geiger who has stepped down as chairman and resigned from the board.

In November, Gieger left his chairman/CEO post with Aeropostale to join Crumbs Bake Shop as president and CEO.

Hirtler-Garvey is a CPA, and most recently was the chief risk executive for Ally Financial Inc.  Prior to that, she held various senior level management positions at Bank of America.

New York City -- Many retailers reported solid sales gains for December, but the deep discounts and promotions that shoppers have come to expect cut into profits.  A range of retailers, including Target and The Children’s Place, reduced their, reducing their earnings outlooks. Overall, retail sales rose 3.4% at the 22 retailers tracked by the Thomson Reuters same-store sales index, compared with the 3.3% analyst forecast.

NEW YORK — Many retailers reported solid sales gains for December, but the deep discounts and promotions that shoppers have come to expect cut into profits. A range of retailers, including Target and The Children’s Place, reduced their earnings outlooks. Overall, retail sales rose 3.4% at the 22 retailers tracked by the Thomson Reuters same-store sales index, compared with the 3.3% analyst forecast.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — eBay announced that it has partnered with Toys“R”Us, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Aeropostale for a new incentive for you to spend money online and in stores.

According to the companies, when customers spend $100 online using PayPal at Toys“R”Us or Babies“R”Us on eBay, ToysRUs.com, BabiesRUs.com, Dicks Sporting Goods or Aeropostale.com, they will earn $10 to shop in-store.