eCommerce

Seattle -- Finally some good news in the department store sector.

Nordstrom Inc. on Thursday reported better-than-expected fiscal second-quarter earnings and sales.

The retailer reported net profit of $211 million, or $1.09 a share, for the quarter ending Aug. 1, up from $183 million, or 95 cents a share, in the year-ago period.

Chicago -- Retailers still have time to capitalize on what is turning out to be a late back-to-school shopping, according to a just-released study.

New York -- A report suggests that U.S. consumers aren’t letting the summer doldrums or world unrest get in the way of shopping — although not all retailers are benefiting.

Retail sales rose 0.6% in July month, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. Excluding sales of automobiles, sales were up 0.4%. Eleven of 13 major categories showed increases.

The Commerce Department also revised June's 0.3% decline in retail sales to an unchanged reading.

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Off-price retailer Stein Mart continues to pursue the accelerated store growth strategy that it began in 2014.

The off-price retailer announced it will open nine stores this fall, and at least 12 new locations in 2016.

The news follows the company's recent release of first half 2015 total sales growth of 6.1% and comparable store-sales growth of 4.0%.

Toys"R"Us has teamed up with Netflix on a new animated series that tells the tale of anthropomorphized vehicular dinosaurs.

DSW's aggressive store expansion plan is still on track, as the retailer looks to tap growth in existing as well as new markets.

The footwear and accessories retailer says it is opening 22 stores this fall, including six locations in new markets.

"Expanding our store base allows us to grow our footprint in areas we already call home, while also bringing DSW stores and the DSW brand to areas where our customers have been anticipating our arrival,” said Carrie McDermott, executive VP and COO of DSW, which operated 449 stores in 42 states.

A soon-to-open Cost Plus World Market store in Manhattan could serve as a blueprint for the company's expansion in other urban areas.

Nebraska-based sportings goods retailer Cabela’s has appointed the former CEO of Coors to its board.

The company announced that Peter S. Swinburn has been named to its board of directors.

In a week in which many of the nation's major department stores reported disappointing financial results, Nordstrom showed once again how to drive sales growth.

The Washington-based retailer reported that total sales rose 9.2% from the same quarter in 2014, while same store sales rose 4.9%. The company posted a profit of $211 million, or $1.09 a share, compared with $183 million, or 95 cents a share, a year earlier. Revenue, which includes revenue from its credit cards, rose 9% to $3.7 billion. 

New York -- Things are not getting any better at the struggling and cash-poor American Apparel. In fact, it looks like they are getting worse.

In a short form quarterly filing, the retailer said its net loss increased to $19.4 million in the second quarter from $16.2 million in the year-ago period while net sales fell 17% to $134 million. It estimated that, as of June 30, it had only $7 million in cash and $6 million left in its Capital One credit line. (American Apparel’s full quarterly filing will be delayed.)