Footwear

Everett, Wash. -- Teen retailer Zumiez Inc. reported Thursday that profit for the fourth quarter increased 24.9% to $18.7 million, from $15 million a year earlier, boosted by better margins.

Revenue rose 18% to $183.9 million, edging Wall Street’s expected $183 million in revenue.

The company has now surpassed analyst estimates for four quarters in a row.
 

New York -- DSW Inc. has opened on 34th Street in Manhattan, in the heart of New York's fashion district. The retailer also announced plans to open a store on the Upper West Side in early summer 2012.

At over 33,000 sq. ft., the 34th Street location is the one of the largest in the DSW chain. It has three floors of selling space. The DSW store at 79th and Broadway will also be very large, measuring over 32,000 sq. ft.
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New York -- Women’s apparel retailer Maurices plans to open approximately 60 stores this year, according to the Duluth News Tribune. The total includes the chain’s first international location, in Canada.

Maurices currently has 803 stores in 44 states, with the count up 32 stores since June.
 

Kearney, Neb. -- The Buckle Inc. said Thursday its fiscal fourth-quarter net income rose a better-than-expected 13% to $56.1 million amid higher same-store sales and growing online demand.

Revenue rose 11% to $337.1 million from $303.1 million. Same-store sales increased 8%. Online sales, which are not included in that total surged 31% to $27.6 million.

Buckle, which also sells tops, shoes and other clothing, caters to teens.

Secaucus, N.J. — The Children's Place Retail Stores reported a drop in fourth-quarter net income. Children's Place also reported a drop in income from continuing operations after tax to $24.2 million, from $32.7 million in the year-ago period. The company said that comparable-store sales for the quarter declined 2.7%, and net sales were up only slightly (0.9%) to $457.5 million, from $453.2 million for fourth quarter 2010.

The chain said fourth-quarter sales performance was negatively impacted by the unseasonably warm weather this winter.

NEW YORK — Foot Locker is embarking on an aggressive strategic plan designed to elevate its performance for the 2012 to 2016 period. 

PITTSBURGH — Forty new Dick’s Sporting Good stores are slated to open this year as the company remains undaunted by a weak fourth-quarter same-store sales performance at U.S. stores brought on by warmer than normal weather.

Baltimore -- Atlanta-based Jones Lang LaSalle Retail announced that its president Greg Maloney has been appointed receiver of the Eastpoint Mall located in Baltimore County. Under Maloney’s leadership, Jones Lang LaSalle’s retail leasing and management team will assume immediate oversight of the mall and help stabilize the asset.