eCommerce

WASHINGTON — Retail sales continue to rise for 2012 as the U.S. Census Bureau reported results of February sales on Tuesday.

U.S. retail and food services sales for February, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $407.8 billion, an increase of 1.1% from the previous month and 6.5% above the year-ago period. Retail trade sales were up 1.1% from last month and 6.3% above last year.

Plano, Texas -- As part of its strategic transformation program, J.C. Penney Co. said Monday that it has made several new hires and promotions at the executive level.

To lead merchandise strategy, Liz Sweney has been promoted to chief merchant and will lead the reinvention of the retailer’s apparel and home portfolio. Sweney most recently served as executive VP and senior general merchandise manager of women's apparel, accessories, footwear, jewelry and juniors divisions, as well as Sephora inside J.C. Penney.

Dallas -- Zale Corp. said Tuesday that it has named Jamie Singleton as senior VP and general manager of Piercing Pagoda, effective March 27.

Singleton is charged with overall responsibility for the company’s kiosk business and will report to Theo Killion, CEO.

Singleton most recently served as senior VP business expansion at CPI Corp.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Celebriy Chef Curtis Stone will debut his Kitchen Solutions line March 16 to 17 on HSN. Stone will appear live on HSN during a special one-hour preview at 1 p.m. (EDT) on March 16 and throughout the day on March 17 as part of the multi-channel retailer's "24 Hour HSN Cooks Event."  

Los Angeles -- A survey released Monday by PriceGrabber said that 77% of consumers who own a tablet computer use either a tablet or a smartphone to shop.

The survey includes responses from 1,829 U.S. online shopping consumers, 22% of whom indicated that they own a tablet computer.

When consumers who use their mobile devices for shopping were asked how often they make purchases from their mobile devices, 40% said a couple times a month, 23% said once a week, 20% said a few times a year, and 10% said daily.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Hibbett Sports Inc. saw its profit for the quarter ended Jan. 28 jump 27% to $15.8 million, compared with $12.5 million in the year-ago period.

 Revenue increased 10% to $190.7 million from $173.2 million, missing Wall Street’s expected $192.2 million in revenue. Same-store sales rose 7.2%.

For the full year, Hibbett reported net income of $59.1 million, up from $46.4 million last year. Revenue rose to $732.6 million, from $665 million.

Well, 2012 is certainly off to a wild start. While there’s been nothing quite as dramatic and earth shattering as last year’s tsunami in Japan, there are plenty of global events and outside influences affecting our industry. I’m talking about the increases we’re seeing at the gas pumps and the warmer-than-average winter we’ve been experiencing throughout the country.

NEW YORK — Former Cablevision executive, Michael Huseby will join Barnes & Noble as CFO, effective March 13. He will report to CEO William Lynch. 

Huseby will lead the company’s finance organization, aligning the company’s finance and business strategies, optimizing the company’s capital structure and helping to scale the rapidly growing digital business. He will oversee the functions of planning and analysis, corporate development, accounting, treasury, tax, investor relations and internal audit.