Retail

Ascena Retail Group, the operator Lane Bryant, Justice and Dress Barn stores, cited increased spending on growth initiatives and a challenging sales climate for a second quarter profit decline and its second full year earnings guidance reduction in two months.

Actor/producer Josh Duhamel and his production company, Dakotakid Media, are lending their services to PetSmart Charities for the launch of Rescue Waggin': Tales from the Road.

Under the direction of executive producers Duhamel and Jude Weng, the eight-episode web series follows homeless dogs as they travel hundreds, even thousands, of miles for a better chance of being adopted. The web series includes cameos from a cache of celebrity pet adoption advocates, including Kristen Bell, Adam Shankman and Bret Michaels.

Stater Bros. Charities has presented a check in the amount of $75,000 to City of Hope to train a social worker in geriatrics and serve as the primary point person for elderly patients.

The social worker will gain hands on experience working with the geriatrics team, participate in educational conference calls, seminars and conferences and develop a comprehensive resource manual for older patients that will provide information about support services on campus and in the community.

Lease-to-own retailer Aaron's has named Michael P. Ryan as VP of franchising. He replaces Todd Evans, who will be exiting the company. Henri Rogers, currently senior regional manager for Aaron's Three Rivers region, will succeed Ryan as divisional VP of Northern operations.

Improving shopper insights in omnichannel retailing is the top ranked priority for retailers who fear other operators may be doing a better job than they are. That is one of the key findings in a new research report from industry leader EKN that shows retailers still have a long way to go when it comes to leveraging the power of analytics.
 

Prairie Farms Dairy has rolled out a line of Old Recipe Seasonal Favorites Milk in three flavors: Jelly Bean, Chocolate Marshmallow and Easter Egg Nog.

According to the dairy, the milk is ultra-pasteurized and has an extended shelf life of 75 days, and all flavors are produced using milk from cows not treated with artificial growth hormones.

Publix’s sales for the fourth quarter of 2013 boosted the company’s stock price from $30 per share to $30.15 per share.

The company reported sales of $7.4 billion, a 5.3% increase from last year’s $7 billion. Comparable-store sales for the fourth quarter of 2013 increased 4.3%.

Net earnings for the fourth quarter of 2013 were $422 million, compared to $392.8 million in 2012, an increase of 7.4%. Earnings per share for the fourth quarter increased to $0.54 for 2013, up from $0.50 per share in 2012.

Adverse weather in many of Pier 1 Imports’ major markets has continued to plague the home furnishings retailer, prompting president and CEO Alex W. Smith to update fourth-quarter and full-year expectations.

The severe winter has resulted in considerably softer store traffic and has even forced the retailer to close some stores temporarily, further pressuring fourth quarter sales and merchandise margin.