Apparel

Philadelphia – Urban Outfitters reported substantial gains in net sales for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2014. Total company sales in the quarter increased 6% to $906 million, less than Wall Street expected, from $856.8 million in the year-ago period.

Same-store retail segment net sales, which include the direct-to-consumer channel, increased 1%. Same-store retail segment net sales increased 20% at Free People and 10% at Anthropologie and decreased 9% at Urban Outfitters. Wholesale segment net sales rose 24%.

Shoebuy.com, a leading global online retailer of shoes and clothing, has appointed Anabela Perozek as the company's new chief marketing officer. Perozek joins Shoebuy's senior management team and will report to CEO Mike Sorabella.

Littleton, Mass. -- Dover Saddlery reported a preliminary unaudited decline of 6% in its year-over-year net income for 2013, from $1.7 million to $1.6 million. Preliminary unaudited revenues for 2013 increased $7.5 million, or 8.7%, to approximately $93.8 million from $86.3 million achieved in 2012.

Same-store sales rose 4% for the year. In addition, Dover Saddlery expects to open five to seven new stores in fiscal 2014 and also expand its e-commerce operation.

Urban Outfitters reported substantial gains in net sales for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2014, driven primarily by the company’s Anthropologie and Free People brands.

Total company sales in the quarter increased 6% to $906 million from $856.8 million in the year-ago period — less than Wall Street expected.

Indianapolis — Simon Property Group has received zoning approval from the Montgomery County Council in Maryland by unanimous vote for the development of Clarksburg Premium Outlets at Cabin Branch.

Simon Property Group, New England Development and Streetscape Partners make up the development team for the project, which will add 1,500 jobs and more than $150 million in private investment to the local economy. The development team is planning to open Clarksburg Premium Outlets by late 2015.

Toronto -- Michael Culhane, CFO of Hudson’s Bay Company, has resigned following a leave of absence from the company.  

Culhane went on personal leave on January 22, at which time COO and president Donald Watros was appointed acting CFO. He will continue in that role until a permanent replacement is named.

“This is the ideal time for me to leave HBC as the company is well positioned for the future,” said Culhane. “I wish all of HBC’s associates and business partners continued success.”

New York – The Jones Group Inc. reported mixed results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2013, with net loss and net sales falling in both periods compared to the same periods a year earlier. Net loss fell to $47.1 million from $80.1 million during the fourth quarter, and to $19.7 million from $55 million during the full year.

However, net sales declined 8.5% to $876.5 million from $958.3 million during the quarter, and fractionally to $3.72 billion from $3.75 billion during the full year.

By David Weinberger, CBX