Apparel

J.Jill ends Q4 with a profit, building momentum for 2017
Ending its fiscal year with a strong fourth quarter has helped J.Jill hit year-over-year earnings growth for 20 consecutive quarters. For the quarter ended January 28, 2017, the retailer’s total net sales increased by 14.8% to $166.9 million, up from $145.4 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015. Gross profit increased to $105.5 million, up from $91.4 million in the same period last year. As a percentage of total net sales, gross profit was 63.2% compared to 62.9% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015.
Stage Stores to acquire bankrupt department store chain — but not all of it
Gordmans is being rescued from liquidation — at least, part of it. Stage Stores won a bid to acquire about half of Gordmans’ stores. The Omaha, Nebraska-based department store chain filed for Chapter 11 on March 13. The retailer’s bid edged out Jeff Gordman, the former CEO of Gordmans, who also made a play to revive the bankrupt 106-store department store chain.

Reimagining Retail: Nordstrom

On a recent trip to Seattle, my luggage was lost and I found myself without anything to wear except for the clothes on my back. I urgently needed a suit for a business meeting and decided Nordstrom was the best place to start given I was in the retailer’s hometown.
Analysis: Dick’s Sporting Goods Shake-Up

On March 7, Edward Stack, CEO and chairman of Dick’s Sporting Goods, announced the company is dropping 20% of its brand offerings. This news is part of a larger redirection for the sporting goods retailer, one designed to optimize its inventory for increased sales.
Luxe home furnishings retailer Q4 tops Street

Things are looking up at RH (formerly known as Restoration Hardware) which capped a busy year with better-than-expected results for its fourth quarter. RH reported that revenue fell 9% to $586.7 million in the fourth quarter, beating analysts’ estimates.
Merchants gaining more leverage over landlords in Manhattan

Plummeting retail occupancy rates have Manhattan landlords in a generous mood. According to a Bloomberg report, Manhattan landlords are offering their retail clients such giveaways as interior redesigns and moving expenses to keep storefronts from going dark.
Colliers names North Jersey leasing director

Colliers International has announced the hiring of Wayne L. Kasbar as managing director in its Parsippany, New Jersey, office. He will focus on the retail sector. Kasbar comes to Colliers from Silbert Realty & Management Company, where he oversaw the brokerage team covering New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. Prior to that, he spent five years at Trammel Crow, now part of CBRE, leaving there as VP of brokerage services.
Department store retailer taps former Walmart exec to head up supply chain

Nordstrom Inc. is expanding its supply chain management team.

Brent Beabout
Report: Baby Spice jumps into online retailing game

A former Spice Girl has a new career. Emma Bunton, a.k.a. Baby Spice, is the co-founder of a new environmentally-friendly diaper and skincare online store, according to Retail Gazette.
Sportswear retailer streamlines trade operations in China

Adidas Group wants to kick off its expansion in China on the right foot. The sportswear brand plans to bolster its retail sales network to 12,000 outlets in China by 2020, with much of the growth slated for smaller cities. However, the company also knows that conducting international trade within China can be difficult and complex due to challenges presented by huge import and export volume, and minimal advance notice of regulatory changes.

J.Jill ends Q4 with a profit, building momentum for 2017

Stage Stores to acquire bankrupt department store chain — but not all of it

Reimagining Retail: Nordstrom

Analysis: Dick’s Sporting Goods Shake-Up

Luxe home furnishings retailer Q4 tops Street

Merchants gaining more leverage over landlords in Manhattan

Colliers names North Jersey leasing director

Department store retailer taps former Walmart exec to head up supply chain

Report: Baby Spice jumps into online retailing game

Sportswear retailer streamlines trade operations in China