Department Store

New York -- A group of 11 large U.S. retailers that report same-store sales results each month had a generally strong showing in July. However, Thomson Reuters analysis indicates significant discounting helped drive an overall 4.4% increase, more than double the 1.4% same-store sales rise recorded in July of last year.

New York – Law firm Morgan & Morgan is investigating potential legal claims against the board of directors of Saks Inc. relating to the proposed acquisition of Saks by Hudson's Bay Company. Morgan & Morgan's investigation concerns whether Saks' board of directors breached its fiduciary duties to act in the best interests of Saks' shareholders and to take all necessary steps to ensure that Saks' shareholders receive the maximum value readily available for their shares of Saks common stock.

Houston — Jones Lang LaSalle has announced the closing of the sale of The Shops at Bella Terra, a 308,828-sq.-ft. power center in Houston’s Grand Parkway corridor. The JLL Capital Markets Group also secured acquisition financing with Wells Fargo and additional equity from Heitman on behalf of the buyer, Dunhill Partners

New York – Despite a slowdown in U.S. retail and consumer merger & acquisition (M&A) activity in second quarter 2013, consumer sentiment and retail sales trends remain positive, along with strong corporate balance sheets and availability of private equity "dry powder," which should help trigger M&A activity during the second half of 2013, according to PwC's U.S. retail and consumer deals insights second quarter 2013 report.

Gap Inc. continues to enjoy momentum at its namesake Gap stores and Old Navy units which pushed total company results up 8% to nearly $3.9 billion.

Results were strongest at Gap and Old Navy stores where comps increase 6% while Banana Republic comps declined 1%.

“We are pleased with our second quarter performance overall, and we’re focused on continuing our momentum as we move into the second half of the year,” said Glenn Murphy, chairman and CEO of Gap Inc.

By Ted Vaughan, [email protected]

The year 2012 was the best year for retail IPOs since 2002 — S&P Capital IQ reported seven offerings for the year — and when we released our 2013 IPO Outlook Study earlier this year, 30% of capital markets executives expected initial public offerings (IPOs) in the retail and consumer products space to continue to grow in 2013. Now that we’re well into the second half of the year, how have those expectations fared?

Jacksonville, Fla. – Stein Mart reported year-over-year increases in total and same-store sales during the second quarter of fiscal 2013. Total sales grew 3.8% to $74.6 million from $70.5 million, while same-store sales increased 6.4%, compared to same-store sales growth of only 1.6% during the second quarter of the previous year.

Boston – Retailers trying to successfully attract business from back-to-school shoppers need to understand the different types of customer segments they must target. According to a new report from social media analytics software provider Crimson Hexagon, back-to-school consumers fall into five broad categories based on how they broadcast their goals, choices, experiences, and opinions about back-to-school shopping on social media.

The five types of social back-to-school consumer are: