Apparel

Houston – Increased selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) led to net income at Francesca’s Holdings Corp. dropping 18% to $7.24 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2015 from $8.56 million the same period a year earlier.

Net sales fared better, rising 11% to $95.01 million from $85.42 million, helped by the opening of 76 new stores in the preceding 12 months.

Same-store sales declined 2% due to lower transaction count, although direct-to-consumer sales rose 19%.

Saks Off 5th helped its parent, Hudson’s Bay Co., increase same store sales in the first quarter, although the company did report a larger loss.

HBC reported that for the first quarter ended May 2, same store sales increased 2.7%. The company posted a loss of $44 million, compared with a profit of C$176 million, or 97 Canadian cents, a year earlier. Adjusted to exclude restructuring and other items, the loss was C$33 million, up from a comparable C$27 million loss a year earlier. Sales rose 11.7 percent to C$2.07 billion.

Dick's Sporting Goods Inc. is opening four new stores this month as the company moves forward with its plan to open as many as 750 stores by 2017.

The company will distribute free Reebok Play Dry T-Shirts to the first 100 people in queue on the opening day. Also, the early birds will get an opportunity to open the DICK'S Sporting Goods Gift Locker on all three days. Moreover, on Saturday and Sunday, the company plans to give away free Mystery Gift Cards worth $5–$500 to the first 100 adults in line. 

Los Angeles -- American Apparel announced it has appointed Brian McHale as senior VP and CIO, with responsibility for overseeing information technology and computer systems. In addition to providing critical support to American Apparel’s onsite hardware and software applications, McHale will also lead the development and expansion of the company’s retail digital capabilities alongside Thoryn Stephens, recently appointed chief digital officer.

Plus-size apparel retailer Torrid is launching a national quest to discover the new full-figured face for the brand.

Casting for the Face of Torrid 2016 kicked off this month at Torrid.com/modelsearch and will be followed this summer with live casting events in five major Torrid markets: Minneapolis, Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia and Los Angeles.

Vancouver – Lululemon Athletica Inc. struck a pose of profitability in the first quarter of fiscal 2015. Net income more than doubled to $47.8 million from $19 million a year earlier, aided by the elimination of a tax expense.

Net revenue increased 10% to $423.5 million, from $384.6 million. A 27% hike in direct-to-consumer net revenue, which now represents 20% of total company revenue, helped drive the overall improvement. Same-store sales dropped 1%.

Kohl's and Disney's "Frozen" were among the winners at the LIMA International Licensing Awards.

In a ceremony held this week at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Kohl's Department Stores received the Retailer of the Year award for its in-store presentation of Frozen.

In addition, Jakks Pacific tied with Playmate Toys' Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles product line for the win in the Film, Television or Entertainment (Animated) Licensee: Hard Goods category for its Disney Frozen Snow Glow Elsa doll.