eCommerce

Seattle - A significant increase in selling, general and administrative expenses, as well as higher marketing expenses, helped plunge net income at pure play retailer Zulily Inc. below Wall Street expectations during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014. Net income fell 15% to $10.88 million from $12.75 million.

New York -- In a big loss for American Express, Costco Wholesale Club will no longer accept American Express cards at its U.S. stores starting on March 31, 2016, ending a 16-year-old exclusive relationship with the credit card giant. Costco is one of the few big U.S. retailers that accepts only American Express cards, with by Visa Inc., MasterCard Inc. and Discover Financial Services cards not accepted at its stores.

Washington, D.C. -- Retail sales (excluding automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) will increase 4.1% in 2015, up from 3.5% in 2014, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2015 economic forecast. The increase would mark the biggest annual growth since 2011 when retail sales for the year increased 5.1%. Non-store sales in 2015 are expected to grow between 7% and 10%.

Sidney, Neb. - Incremental expenses related to the relocation of a distribution center in Winnipeg, Canada, as well as increased promotional and advertising spending, helped drive down Cabela’s Inc. net income 2% to $78.6 million from $80.1 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014.

Total revenue increased 7% to $1.3 billion, from $1.2 billion. Although increased retail store revenue fueled total revenue growth, same-store sales fell 5.5%.

Charlotte, N.C. -- Crescent Communities has unveiled plans for a mixed-use, transit-oriented development that will bring Uptown Charlotte its first Whole Foods Market. The company’s plans for the 5.4-acre site at the Lynx Light Rail’s Stonewall Station, in Charlotte, North Carolina, define a new model of urban living for the area and complement its Tryon Place mixed-use development to redefine the city’s Stonewall corridor.

Hudson, Ohio -- Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores has named a 25-year retailing veteran, former Shopko exec Jill Soltau, as president, CEO and a member of the board, effective March 2. She succeeds Jim Kerr, who has served as interim CEO since August when Travis Smith stepped down. Kerr will continue as executive VP and CFO.

Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores has named a new chief executive after announcing the search for a new leader in August.

The company announced the appointment of Jill Soltau as president, chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors of the company, effective March 2. Jim Kerr, who served as interim CEO, will continue as EVP and CFO of the company.

Zulily achieved $1.2 billion in annual sales during 2014, but Wall Street was none too happy with that.

The flash-sale website operator expects first-quarter sales of $300 million to $320 million, compared with the $371 million estimate from analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters. For the full year, it expects $1.5 billion to $1.65 billion, compared with an analyst estimate of $1.75 billion.