Department Store

Express is going full-steam ahead with its outlet-store strategy, with plans to open 30-plus stores in 2015. The retailer ended the year with 41 outlet stores in operation.

“Together they generated approximately $55 million of incremental revenue, far surpassing our initial estimate,” said Paul Dascoli, senior VP and CFO, Express, on the chain’s quarterly earnings call. Express is expanding its outlet store division both through new construction and conversions.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. — Dollar General announced Thursday that David Tehle, executive VP and CFO, will retire from Dollar General effective July 1, 2015. The retailer has started a search for a successor and will consider both internal and external candidates for the job.

Before Lululemon and many others started selling "athleisure" apparel, Juicy Couture started the trend in the 1990s. Now the brand and retailer plans a comeback. 

The company says it expects to open 133 stores (through its various licensing partners) during the next five years, according to Women's Wear Daily. Juicy will open 31 international locations in eight countries this year, the report said. Three of the countries — India, South Africa and Azerbaijan — will be new market entries for the brand.

Bon-Ton plans to refocus the brand, expand omnichannel efforts and open an e-commerce fulfillment center on the heels of a successful fourth quarter.

The company saw an increase in net income in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 to $71.7 million, up 17% from net income of $61.3 million in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year.

New York -- Express is going full-steam ahead with its outlet-store strategy, with plans to open 30-plus stores in 2015. The retailer ended the year with 41 outlet stores in operation.

“Together they generated approximately $55 million of incremental revenue, far surpassing our initial estimate,” said Paul Dascoli, senior VP and CFO, Express, on the chain’s quarterly earnings call.    

Jacksonville, Fla. – Stein Mart Inc. had a generally successful fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 and plans to open 11 new stores, close two stores and relocate one store during fiscal 2015. The off-price retailer reported net income of $12.3 million, up 66% from $7.4 million the same quarter a year earlier and driven by higher gross profit and lower selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses.

Net sales rose 7% to $387 million, from $360.79 million. Same-store sales increased 5.6%.

York, Pa. – An insurance settlement from a store damaged by fire helped The Bon-Ton Stores Inc. increase net income in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 to $71.7 million, up 17% from net income of $61.3 million in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year.

Sales grew 3%to $942.6 million from $914.9 million. Top-performing merchandise categories included cold weather and active apparel and home. The company continued its trend of double-digit sales growth in e-commerce in the period. Same-store sales rose 4.3%.

The acquisition of JoS. A. Bank is weighing on the financials at Men’s Wearhouse, which posted a decline in profits for the fourth quarter.

Men’s Wearhouse reported a quarterly loss of $35.9 million, or $0.75 per share, versus a year-ago loss of $30.4 million, or $0.64 per share. Excluding non-operating items, the company lost $0.03 per share, versus a year-ago loss of $0.38 per share. Its net sales surged 66% to $928.4 million.