Apparel

Teens’ demand for slime to fidget spinners helped boost Five Below’s first quarter sales, comps and earnings well above expectations.   For the first quarter ended April 29, the teen value retailer reported a net income of $8.4 million compared to $6.8 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. Meanwhile, the chain’s sales increased almost 21% to $232.9 million, from $192.7 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2016.  

Gymboree Corp. could be filing Chapter 11 sooner than expected.   Struggling to manage its debt and churn a profit, Gymboree missed an interest payment due June 1, for its outstanding 9.125% senior notes due 2018. The missed payment was reported in a filing on Thursday, June 1, by the Securities and Exchange Commission, according to CNBC.   

As H&M braces for the opening of its first Arket store, it is already putting a plan in motion for its second location.   The fast-fashion chain announced in March that is plans to launch its new brand, Arket, in early fall. Arket, H&M’s first new brand in three years, will feature merchandise men, women and children, and a smaller, curated assortment of home goods.  

Despite a rough first fiscal quarter, Express remains committed to its ongoing plan to manage costs, optimize its store fleet and improve profitability.   For the quarter ended April 29, the specialty apparel retailer posted a net loss of $4.5 million, or $0.06 per share. This included a net negative $0.03 per share impact related to certain discrete tax items and the exit of Canada.   

Fred Segal is designing its new flagship to be more than a just “a store.” Instead, it’s creating “a style and design laboratory.”  

Retailers looking to bring customers in the door need to upgrade the shopping experience with added amenities.    That's according to JLL, whose new report examines how brick-and-mortar retailers can deliver in-store experiences and brand loyalty through added amenities.  The report, JLL’s Retail Amenities Guide, notes that  today's shoppers have countless options when it comes to where they can buy, leaving retailers with fewer opportunities to create brand converts.    

Product innovation, an enhanced digital experience, and its first-ever global brand campaign boosted Lululemon’s first quarter earnings — however these gains are not swaying the company’s restructuring plans.   The athleisure brand is currently restructuring Ivivva, its activewear brand for girls. The division will operate primarily as an e-commerce business, supported by only a select number of stores in key communities across North America.   

E-commerce fraud as a percent of sales dollars may be on the decline, however losses still account for billions of dollars.   This was according to the “Q1 2017 Global Fraud Index,” a report from Pymnts.com and Signifyd. The study measures and benchmarks innovations and trends that are reshaping the payments and commerce ecosystem.  

Despite a challenging retail landscape, J.Jill’s same-store sales growth and profits not only climbed, but topped analyst expectations.   For the first quarter ended April 29, the mall-based women’s specialty chain’s overall revenue increased 12.5% to $166.1 million — a jump from $147.7 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. This also beat analyst estimates at $162 million.  

In effort to dig out of its sales funk and rebuild its brand, Michael Kors plans to shutter more than 100 full-price stores.