Apparel

Chicago -- Fraud prevention and risk management provider Accertify said Thursday that Forever 21 will deploy its fraud prevention solution, customized to the retailer’s e-commerce business.

Forever 21 said it is growing its online presence internationally and turned to Accertify, an American Express company, to process and decrease risk in Forever 21’s online transactions.

Canton, Mass. -- Casual Male Retail Group reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended Jan. 28 surged to $33.5 million, from $5.3 million in the year-ago period. Without a $23 million trademark impairment charge, net income was $5 million in the quarter.

The retailer of big & tall men's apparel and accessories also reported flat fourth quarter sales of $111.5 million and a slight same-store sales increase of 0.8%.

Pleasanton, Calif. -- Ross Stores Inc. reported Thursday that profit for the quarter ended Jan. 28 rose 19% to $192 million, from $161.8 million last year. A profitable holiday season helped boost the discounter’s results, which met Wall Street expectations.

Sales surged almost 12% to $2.4 billion, and same-store sales increased 7%.

For the full year, Ross reported a net income rise of 18% to $657.2 million. Sales increased 9% to $8.6 billion, with same-store sales up 5%.

WASHINGTON — February retail sales rose 8.6% over last year, marking 20 consecutive months of sustained growth, The National Retail Federation reported Tuesday.

The seasonally adjusted increase -- stronger than expected -- was 0.5%, which excludes automobiles, gas stations and restaurants.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Pacific Sunwear of Calif. Inc. reported Tuesday that its loss for the quarter ended Jan. 28 widened to $38.1 million, compared with a net loss of $35.2 million a year earlier. Sales dipped 1% to $234.2 million from $237.6 million, missing Wall Street’s expected revenue of $245.9 million.

PacSun has been in the throes of a right-sizing effort, working to build sales while closing underperforming stores. The company closed 87 stores during fourth quarter and ended fiscal 2011 with 733 stores.

The outside world doesn’t have a lot of visibility into the bench strength of Target’s leadership team beyond the top tier of executives so it’s hard to know whether the company has the talent it needs to fill the void created by high profile defections to rival JCPenney.

Nothing is ever as easy as it seems in the retail industry. Take Target’s decision to not sell denim jeans that have been distressed using the sand blasting method. That means the company or its suppliers now have to amend or implement some type of reporting infrastructure and audit protocol to ensure any distressed jeans Target sells achieved their weathered look through appropriate means. For an insightful look at the issues of eco-labels and the certification process that underpins the validity of such claims, check out this column from Deloitte Consulting executive Chris Park.

Los Angeles -- Guess reported Wednesday that net earnings dipped 7.2% to $95.9 million for the quarter ended Jan. 28, compared with $103.3 million a year earlier.

Revenue for the quarter edged up 2.5% to $775.8 million, from $756.9 million. Same-store sales dropped 5% in the quarter.

The retailer’s greatest strength came from the performance of its Asian segment, which saw revenue surge 27.5% to $70.6 million in the fourth quarter.

Warrendale, Pa. -- Rue21 reported Wednesday that net income for the quarter ended Jan. 28 rose 18.7% to $12.9 million, from $10.9 million in the year-ago period.

Sales surged 15.7% to $219.9 million, but same-store sales dipped 2.2% following a 1.5% increase a year earlier.

During the quarter, Rue21 opened 17 new stores and closed two.
 

New York City -- Fashion retail Zara, an Inditex brand, on Thursday will officially open its largest U.S. store – on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan – designed with the latest advancements in sustainability.

The new store, in the Tishman Building (666 Fifth Avenue, at the intersection of 52nd Street), features a three-floor layout that reflects an innovative approach to interior design. The shop opens onto Fifth Avenue and 52nd Street with five display windows and a dramatic façade.