Apparel

NEW YORK — Saks Inc. recorded a net loss of $12.3 million, or 8 cents per diluted share, for its second quarter. For the prior year second quarter, the company recorded a net loss of $8.4 million, or 5 cents per diluted share.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — TJX reported that net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2013 increased 9% to $5.9 billion and consolidated comparable-store sales increased 7%. Net income for the second quarter was $421 million and diluted earnings per share were 56 cents, a 24% increase over 45 cents per share last year.

NEW YORK — American designer, Narciso Rodriguez, will begin an advisory role on Aug. 20 with Banana Republic in partnership with its EVP design and creative director, Simon Kneen, beginning with the fall 2013 collection. In an effort to build upon the strengths of the brand, Banana Republic has created this advisory role specifically for Rodriguez.

As a leading retailer, you know what your customer wants, and you’ve done the hard work of building the right assortment, sourcing from the right factories, and making it available in time for the season. Now you need to make sure that your customers can have what they want when they want it.   

Glenwillow, Ohio -- Fashion retailer Dots announced Tuesday it has named former Wal-Mart Stores senior VP Lisa Rhodes as its new CEO.
   
Rhodes, who led Wal-Mart’s U.S. apparel merchandising division, has been charged with leading Dots’ march toward 1,000 stores, also announced Tuesday.
    
Prior to her role at Wal-Mart, Rhodes was executive VP and chief merchandising officer for Maurice’s.
   

New York City -- The New York Post reported Tuesday that Sears Holdings Corp. may be mulling over a sale of its Lands End unit. The move would dovetail with the massive restructuring effort the company has launched.

According to the report, chairman Eddie Lampert has been meeting with investors to discuss the divestiture of Lands End.
 

New York CIty -- Michael Kors Holdings Ltd. reported Tuesday that first-quarter profit more than doubled to $68.6 million, from $24.1 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue surged 71% to $414.9 million, after the company opened 76 new stores and grew same-store sales by 37%. Wall Street forecast revenue of $368.3 million.
 

Washington, D.C. -- Fueled by strength from department stores, electronics and the automobile sector, retail sales advanced 0.8% in July, the first gain in four months, according to a report released Tuesday by the Commerce Dept.

The bigger-than-expected increase followed a 0.7% decline in June that was weaker than first reported. Bloomberg forecast a 0.3% rise in July. The results have buoyed feelings overall that the economy may be improving, albeit at a moderate pace.

Pittsburgh -- Dick's Sporting Goods reported Tuesday that net income for the quarter ended July 28 slid to $53.7 million, from $73.8 million in the same quarter a year ago. The sporting goods retailer blamed the lackluster profit performance partly on weakness from newly acquired JJB Sports and adverse weather in the first quarter.

Sales climbed 10% to $1.4 billion, meeting Wall Street expectations. Same-store sales rose 3.8%, consisting of a 2.9% increase at Dick’s stores, a 4.4% rise at Golf Galaxy, and a 34.6% increase in its e-commerce business.

New York -- Saks Inc. reported Tuesday a loss of $12.3 million for the second quarter, widened from a loss of $8.4 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue climbed 5.1% to $704.1 million, widely missing the $762.6 million projected by Wall Street. Same-store sales increased 4.7% in the quarter.