eCommerce

Kansas City -- The area’s first White House Black | Market Outlet boutique opened on May 24 at Legends Outlets Kansas City.

The concept features not only collections designed specifically for the outlet boutique, but also an assortment from its full-price boutiques as well.

The White House Black Market Outlet boutique will occupy 2,955 sq. ft. next to Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th.

San Francisco -- Williams-Sonoma Inc. reported Thursday that first-quarter profit dipped to $30.7 million, from $31.6 million last year, but results topped Wall Street estimates and the retailer has raised its full-year earnings forecast.

Sales increased 6% to $817.6 million, also surpassing analysts’ estimates of $811.7 million. Same-store sales grew 5.4% overall, driven by strength from Pottery Barn (up 9.1%) and West Elm (up 22.1%).

Issaquah, Wash. -- Costco Wholesale Corp. reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended May 6 surged 19% to $386 million, from $324 million in the same period last year.

Revenue rose 8% to $22.3 billion from $20.6 billion, beating Wall Street’s expected $22.1 billion in revenue. Same-store sales increased 5%.

The company said it plans to open six additional warehouse clubs before the end of fiscal 2012.
 

MAVENEL, N.J.  — MIZCO International has introduced an entire line of universal tablet accessories under the company’s DIGIPOWER, iEssentials, and Travelocity brands. All of the new accessories, according to MIZCO president and CEO Albert Mizrahi, are designed to work with both the Apple iPad as well as Android based tablets.
 

TOPEKA, Kan. — Net sales at Collective Brands during the first quarter increased 5% to $912.1 million over the same period last year, driven in part by an 8.1% increase in comparable-store sales. The company reported net income of $33.2 million, or 54 cents per share, compared with $26.4 million, or 42 cents per share, in the first quarter of 2011.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target has joined the Shopkick program, making it the largest retailer to reward its guests for using the app via their smart phones. Target guests nationwide can earn points for shopping at Target that can be redeemed for a variety of rewards.
 

Specialty retailer Brookstone has hired Stephen Bebis as its new president and CEO, effective immediately.

Prior to joining Brookstone, Bebis spent 14 years as founder, president and CEO of Golf Town, the largest specialty golf retailer in Canada. Starting the business from scratch, Bebis grew Golf Town to 57 locations across Canada and led the expansion of the company into the Boston market last year with seven stores.

CINCINNATI — Macy's is offering customers in China access to an assortment of its highly regarded private brand merchandise through a Macy's section on Omei.com, a newly established China-based online retailer of in-season luxury and fashion brands operated by VIPStore Co., Ltd.

Seattle -- Retail companies are more able and willing to reinvest in their businesses, as evidenced by sharp increases in 2012 capital expenditure budgets, according to a new white paper released by Colliers International.

Indianapolis -- Hhgregg Inc.'s fiscal fourth-quarter earnings jumped as the chain collected $39.6 million in life insurance proceeds due to the death of executive chairman and former CEO Jerry W. Throgmartin.

Throgmartin, who died Jan. 22 at age 57, served as chairman and CEO of Hhgregg from 2003 to 2009 and led it through a 2007 initial public offering of stock. Hhgregg said Wednesday it collected the proceeds from a "key man" life insurance policy.