Discount Store

Suffern, N.Y. -- Ascena Retail Group, owner of the Dressbarn, Maurices and Justice chains, reported Wednesday that net income for the quarter ended July 30 fell to $28.2 million, from $42 million in the year-ago period on one-time charges and a shorter quarter for the performance slide.

New York City -- Winick Realty Group announced that 1800mattress.com has leased its third Brooklyn location at 2417 Flatbush Avenue, one block from Kings Plaza in the Flatbush -- Ditmas Park neighborhood.

The 2,500-sq.-ft. store was formerly home to Jennifer Convertibles.

The new location is the retailer’s 52nd in the northeast from Virginia to New Hampshire.
 

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart announced that it is launching the Latina Smart Fund in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month. Promoted through Kmart's Latina Smart Facebook page, the Latina Smart Fund will award $25,000 in scholarships to graduating high school seniors and/or students currently enrolled in college, technical or trade schools.   

OMAHA, Neb. — Long-time retail executive Andy Lundquist has joined apparel and home fashions discounter Gordman's as VP stores.

Lundquist has more than 20 years of retail management experience, most recently as SVP stores for Kohl's where he oversaw 270 stores in 21 states. In contrast, Gordman's operates 73 stores mostly concentrated in the Midwest.  

Lundquist was instrumental in growing Kohl's into one of the largest department store chains in the country.

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Wednesday by the Commerce Department said that retail sales were flat in August, the weakest showing in three months.

Apparel retail sales fell 0.7% in August, following a 0.3% decline in July.  Department store sales declined 0.3%.  General merchandise stores such as Wal-Mart and Target fared better, with 0.1% gains. Analysts said Hurricane Irene likely disrupted sales in late August along most of the East Coast.

BURLINGTON, N.J. — Burlington Coat Factory reported that total sales for its second quarter increased 8.9% to $793 million and comparable-store sales were up 4%.

For the year-to-date, total sales rose 6.1% to $1.8 billion and same-store sales climbed 2.1%.

Omaha, Neb. -- Apparel and home fashions retailer Gordman’s has named Andy Lundquist  as VP stores.

Lundquist most recently served as senior VP stores for Kohl’s Department Stores, where oversaw 270 stores generating $4 billion in revenues in 21 states.

Winston-Salem, N.C. -- RockTenn and BVI Networks announced the debut of its first large-format ShopperGauge Retail Learning Lab at Family Dollar Stores.

The goal is to provide a state-of-the-art “learning laboratory” in a set of real stores where Family Dollar and its suppliers can test designs, displays and promotions with customers, ultimately improving the in-store shopper experience.