Bebe

Brisbane, Calif. – Bebe Stores Inc. plans to roll out the digital experience management platform from Qubit. Qubit's technology helps marketers gain a deeper understanding of customer data to optimize the customer experience based on insights and intelligence.

Norwalk, Conn. -- GE Capital announced it is providing Brookstone, the product development company and specialty retailer, with a $115 million senior credit facility. The financing will be used to support the company’s recent acquisition by Sailing Innovation (Sailing) and general working capital needs.

New York – Bebe Store Inc. has named Seth Johnson, Blair Lambert and Brett Brewer to replace Caden Wang, Barbara Bass and Cynthia Cohen on the company’s board of directors, effective immediately. Johnson previously served as CEO of Pacific Sunwear of California Inc.

Johnson also served as COO and CFO of Abercrombie and Fitch. Prior to joining Abercrombie and Fitch he held positions at The Limited Inc., Batus Retail Group, Conoco, and Dayton Hudson (now known as Target).

New York -- Women’s apparel retailer Bebe has selected digital experience management platform provider Qubit to provide a wide reaching and bespoke A/B testing, website optimization and personalization program designed to increase conversion rates.

While Bebe retains a strong physical store presence in prime locations globally, the retailer is now looking to establish itself as an ecommerce market leader by honing its online and mobile strategy — a plan that will kick off with the launch of a new responsive mobile site in the coming weeks.

Brisbane, Calif. – Bebe Stores Inc. will exit its 2b business by July 5, which is the end of the company’s fiscal 2014. The retailer says this will allow it to increase its focus on the core Bebe brand’s retail and outlet stores, e-commerce and international licensing business.

Merrimack, N.H. – A bankruptcy court in Wilmington, Delaware, has approved the June 4 sale of Brookstone Inc. to Hong Kong-based Sailing Innovation (US) Inc., a consortium led by Sailing Capital Overseas Investment Fund LP with a financing commitment from GE Capital. Backers of the $174 million acquisition include Chinese conglomerate Sanpower Group and Chinese government-supported Shanghai Investment Group.

Brisbane, Calif. – Bebe Stores Inc. reported a net loss of $24.3 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, an improvement from the net loss of $49.3 million recorded in the same quarter a year earlier.

However, net sales were $93.5 million, a decrease of 17.2% from $112.9 million for the third quarter a year ago.

Same-store sales for the quarter decreased 5.7%.

Bebe Stores is updating its net loss per share guidance for the third quarter ended April 5 based on its preliminary financial results.

Comparable store sales for the quarter decreased approximately 5.7%. Net sales were approximately $93 million, a decrease of 17.2% from $113 million reported for the third quarter a year ago. The company said the sales decrease was due partially to one fewer retail week in January in the current fiscal year coupled with the closure of 19 unproductive stores since the prior year third fiscal quarter.