Footwear

Englewood, Col. - Sports Authority continues to roll out its enhanced store environment in both existing stores and new locations nationwide. Most recently, the retailer completed the remodel of an existing store and also opened two new units in the Las Vegas area.  

Columbus, Ohio – DSW Inc. exceeded Wall Street expectations for net income and sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2014. Net income fell a less than expected 10% to $49.55 million from $54.96 million the same quarter a year earlier, with higher operating expenses and lower pretax income contributing to the decline.    Sales totaled $670 million compared to $633 million and same-store sales rose 2.6%.

Wet Seal has hired an investment banker and a senior adviser to analyze potential financial alternatives for the struggling retailer.

The company said it has hired investment bank Houlihan Lokey and former Tilly's Inc. executive William Langsdorf to aid in a strategic review. Wet Seal said it has not set a deadline for completion of the process and that “there can be no assurance that the exploration of the potential alternatives will result in a transaction.”

DSW Inc. exceeded Wall Street expectations for net income and sales in the third quarter.

Net income fell a less than expected 10% to $49.5 million from $54.9 million the same quarter a year earlier, with higher operating expenses and lower pretax income contributing to the decline.

Sales totaled $670 million compared to $633 million in the prior-year quarter and same-store sales rose 2.6%.

New York - Foot Locker Inc. reported net income of $120 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, a 13% gain from $104 million in the year-ago period.  Higher pretax income aided Foot Locker’s profit growth.   Total sales increased 6.7% to $1.73 million, compared with $1.62 million in the year-ago period. Same-store sales rose 6.9%.  

LOS ANGELES - The wait is over:  Nasty Gal, the teen-fave online player with a cult following, has opened its first retail store, on Melrose Avenue in the heart of Hollywood, California.   "We've been having a dialogue with our gal for eight years this month and to celebrate that, we're taking the conversation offline," said  Sophia Amoruso, CEO and founder of Nasty Gal, and author of the best-selling #GIRLBOSS book.   

The news that Zappos opened its first freestanding store caught by the industry by surprise. Here are two expert views:   

Omaha, Neb. – Gordmans Stores Inc. has named Lisa Evans as executive VP and chief merchandising officer effective Jan. 5, 2015. Evans was most recently the executive VP and brand leader for children’s apparel brand Carters, and previously was senior VP and general merchandising manager with Macy's.   Evans’ earlier experience included a variety of senior merchandising leadership roles with the Kaufmann's and Foley's divisions of the former May Company.

Enhanced onmichannel capabilities were among the factors that incoming Foot Locker CEO Dick Johnson cited as contributing to the company’s increase in third quarter profits and same store sales.

Profits for the third quarter climbed to $120 million, or 82 cents per share, compared with profits of $104 million, or 70 cents per share, in the prior-year quarter. Third quarter same store sales increased 6.9% to $1.7 billion this year, compared with sales of $1.6 billion for the prior-year period.

Hibbett Sports reported relatively flat third quarter same store sales, but the company achieved record new expansion and is prepared to surpass 1,000 units in 2015.

For the third quarter, Hibbett posted profits of $16.9 million, down from $17.3 million in the prior-year quarter. The decline was mainly due to markdowns related to slow selling and aged inventory, the company said.