Apparel

Shoe Carnival celebrates profits; will open 18-19 stores
Evansville, Ind. – Shoe Carnival Inc. saw net income and sales increase during the first quarter of fiscal 2015 as selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses and cost of sales rose at a slower pace than revenues.

Net income totaled $10.4 million, up 8% from $9.2 million the same period a year earlier.

Net sales increased 7% to $252.77 million, from $235.77 million. Same-store sales climbed 3%.
Bon-Ton net loss grows in Q1
York, Pa. – Net loss at The Bon-Ton Stores Inc. widened to $34.1 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2015, from $31.5 million in the same quarter the prior year. Increased cost of sales and depreciation and amortization helped increase net loss.

Total sales inched up to $610.9 million from $607.5 million, while same-store sales increased 0.8%. E-commerce sales increased at a double-digit rate due to a higher conversion rate.

Shoe Carnival steps it up in Q1

Improved merchandising and e-commerce initiatives helped Shoe Carnival post first quarter gains in profits, earnings and sales.

The company reported that net sales increased $17 million to a first quarter record of $252.8 million, as compared to net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2014. Same store sales increased 3%. Earnings per diluted share for the first quarter increased 15.6% to 52 cents.
Bath products and bras lift L Brands again

L Brands is showing that it continues to be a bright spot in a volatile specialty retail environment with its latest quarterly results.

The company raised its full-year adjusted earnings guidance to $3.50 to $3.70 a share, from its previous forecast for $3.45 to $3.65. The retailer reported profit of $250.5 million, or 84 cents a share, in the three months ended May 2, up from $157 million, or 53 cents a share, in the prior year period. Sales rose 5% to $2.5 billion.
Bon-Ton propelled by online sales

Bon-Ton Stores Inc. cited growth in the e-commerce channel as among the reasons for the company's slight increase in same store sales in the first quarter.
Stein Mart growing footprint and sales

Stein Mart is not only growing its footprint but the off-price retailer is also growing same store sales as well.

Same-store sales rose 4.8% in the first quarter ended May 2. Net income fell 3% to $13.6 million from $14.1 million a year earlier, with higher loan interest expense a major contributor. Net sales increased 7% to $353.5 million, from $328.9 million.
H&M opens largest store to date, 63,000-sq.-ft. space in Manhattan’s Herald Square

New York -- Swedish fast-fashion giant Hennes & Maurtiz AB (H&M) on Wednesday unwrapped its largest store in the world, in New York City’s Herald Square. The 63,000-sq.- store, which is located across from Macy’s, has a custom illuminated store front that wraps around 33rd Street, 34th Street and 6th Avenue. It is the retailer’s 13th store in New York City.
Kohl’s confirms test of off-price store in Cherry Hill, New Jersey

Menomonee Falls, Wis. -- Kohl’s Corp. confirmed reports that it will soon begin testing a highly discounted format, called "Off Aisle by Kohl’s,” with a store set to open in early June in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
Nordstrom Rack planned for La Jolia, California

Seattle -- Nordstrom plans to further expand its San Diego County presence with the addition of a Nordstrom Rack at The Shops at La Jolla Village in La Jolla, California.

The approximately 32,000-sq.-ft. store is scheduled to open in fall 2016. The property is owned by Alecta Real Estate USA, LLC. When it opens, it will be the fifth Nordstrom Rack in the San Diego area and about one mile west of Nordstrom at University Towne Centre.
American Eagle flying high on strong Q1 profit, sales

Pittsburgh -- American Eagle Outfitters on Wednesday reported first-quarter net income of $29.1 million, up from $3.9 million a year ago, amid higher sales and fewer promotions. It results beat Wall Street expectations.

The retailer posted better-than-expected revenue of $699.5 million for the quarter ended May 2, up 8% from $646.13 million a year ago.

Total same-store sales rose 7%.
Rue 21 selects Epicor to support enterprise-wide reporting, analytics

Nashville, Tenn. -- Epicor Software Corporation announced that teen apparel retailer Rue 21 has selected the Epicor QuantiSense Retail Business Intelligence suite to support enterprise-wide reporting and analytics across merchandising, store operations and digital retail.

rue21 has relied on the Epicor Retail technology suite for years, most recently to help support the company’s extensive growth into new markets and merchandise categories, including a junior plus size division, rue+, launched in 2014.
Target Q1 profit surges 52% as turnaround efforts take hold

MINNEAPOLIS —Target Corp. on Wednesday reported a larger-than-expected increase in first-quarter profit amid signs that its efforts to refocus and revamp its product lineup are taking hold. Target executives said they are “pleased” with its first quarter, particularly the performance of its signature categories, as the retailer also posted a lift in sales and double-digit gains in its digital channel.