Department Store

New York -- Target Corp. turned in a less than stellar performance in December, recording flat same-store sales. But Costco Wholesale Corp. and TJX shone, exemplifying an up-and-down season in which consumers backed off buying amid concerns about a “fiscal cliff” and the uncertain economic climate.

New York -- The battle between Macy’s Inc., J.C. Penney Co., and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. will go to trial Feb. 19, Bloomberg reported.

A New York State judge on Thursday said he case will not be tried before a jury and there will be no need to decide damages.
 
Instead, any potential damages in the dispute “are going to pale in comparison to the injunction,” the judge said. “That’s the real big bucks there -- if I stop this deal.”

At a time of year when much of the retail news we hear focuses on receipts and holiday sales performance, I can’t help thinking that the notion of value has become synonymous with price — and only price. You can make the argument that price has nearly hijacked the whole definition of value. Why is that, exactly? Should retailers be paying closer and more systematic attention to how they articulate (and how customers perceive) the value of their brand?

San Francisco -- In a development that will take it into the growing global luxury market, Gap Inc. announced Thursday it has acquired women’s apparel retailer Intermix Holdco for approximately $130 million in cash. The transaction was completed Dec. 31.

Cincinnati -- Macy’s on Thursday announced what it described as “normal-course adjustments” to its portfolio of Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s stores that include shuttering six locations (all in early spring 2013) and opening nine others.

An annual holiday e-retail satisfaction report produced by analytic's firm ForeSee showed a slight deterioration in Walmart’s satisfaction score during the holidays.

Amazon.com, LLBean.com and QVC.com were the top three retailers on ForeSee’s Annual Holiday E-Retail Satisfaction survey while Walmart.com fell in the middle of the pack.

New York -- As cash-strapped consumers curtailed holiday spending, department store retailers felt the pinch and some performed better than others in an uncertain environment. The strongest performances were turned in by Macy’s and Nordstrom, both topping estimates.

Overall, analysts looked for 3.3% same-store sales growth for December across 17 chains, down from 4.2% growth in December 2011, according to Thomson Reuters.
     

Brisbane, Calif. -- Bebe Stores Inc. reported Thursday that sales for the second quarter plunged 11.7% to $124.6 million, from $141.1 million last year.

Same-store sales plummeted 10.5%, and the women’s apparel retailer now says it expects its second quarter net loss will be larger than previously estimated.
 
Foot traffic fell 15% in the second quarter, which caused inventory per sq. ft. to jump 27.5%.