eCommerce

Kearney, Neb. -- The Buckle said that its fourth-quarter net income increased 9%, topping Wall Street expectations.

For the quarter ended Feb. 2, the retailer earned $61.4 million, up from $56.1 million in the same quarter last year.
       
Net sales for the 14-week quarter ended February 2, 2013 increased 7% to $360.6 million from net sales of $337.1 million for the prior year 13-week fiscal quarter ended January 28, 2012. Same-store net sales for the quarter were flat.
 

Minneapolis -- Scott Kennedy was named president of Target financial and retail service to replace long time finance executive Terry Scully.

Scully spent nearly 35 years with Target and is moving into a strategic advisory role to ensure the smooth transition of the recently sold credit card portfolio to TD Bank Group. Scully, 60, will officially retire in March 2014. Filling his shoes as head of financial and retail services is Scott Kennedy, 44. He joined Target in 2005 and currently serves as VP of pay and benefits.

New York -- Google came out on top, followed by Amazon and Apple, in a new survey by market research company Ipsos called “The Most Influential Brands in the United States 2013.” The survey, which asked U.S. consumers to rate 100 leading brands on a wide variety of attributes, determined that the dimensions or factors that drive a brand’s influence are: engagement; trustworthy; leading edge; corporate citizenship; and, presence.

Dick’s Sporting Goods first Field & Stream outdoor specialty store is scheduled to open this fall in the Pittsburgh suburb of Cranberry Township.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Express, a specialty retail apparel chain operating more than 620 stores, reported that fourth quarter net sales increased 8% to $728.7 million from $673.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. Comparable sales increased 1.5%, following a 5% increase in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Net income was $63.9 million, or 75 cents per diluted share. This compares to net income of $60.4 million, or 68 cents per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2011.

NEW YORK — Macy's has announced Teen Vogue as the latest fashion-forward collection to launch exclusively in Macy's Mstylelab department. Aimed at the most discerning teenage fashionistas, Teen Vogue will bring Macy's customers the latest trends from the combined fashion eye of Macy's and "Teen Vogue." The collection will be available in approximately 150 Macy's stores nationwide and on macys.com this March. 

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — DollarDays.com, an online wholesale distributor, has recently joined forces with Bongo International to offer customers located worldwide the same discounts and service that U.S. clients have enjoyed for over 12 years. Bongo International is a global e-commerce solution providing U.S. retailers access to international markets with no change to their current operations.

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Office Depot, announced that it has won two Silver Stevie Awards in the seventh annual Stevie Awards for sales and customer service. 

Office Depot was honored with Silver Stevie Awards for e-commerce customer service, which recognized Office Depot’s expanded chat services for web customers and the telesales team of the year.

TORONTO — Target Canada has announced its first entertainment sponsorship with three-time Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter Michael Bublé. The retailer will sell an exclusive deluxe edition of Bublé's highly anticipated sixth studio album, "To Be Loved."  The exclusive version of the album, featuring three bonus tracks, will hit stores April 22 and continue to be available as Target stores open across Canada throughout 2013.

Irving, Texas -- Michaels Stores said its fourth-quarter profit rose 15%, boosted by higher sales.
   
For the three months ended Feb. 2, the company said net income rose to $112 million, up from $97 million in the year ago period.

Revenue rose 9% to $1.52 billion, helped by an extra week in the quarter. Same-store sales increased 1.7%, with a 2.3% increase in the average ticket.

For the year, net sales increased 15% to $4.41 billion. Net income totaled $214 million, up from $176 million in fiscal 2011.