eCommerce

Minneapolis -- A Thursday report by Bloomberg, citing unnamed sources, said that Best Buy Co. has rekindled its talks with co-founder Richard Schulze about an agreement that would allow Schulze to launch due-diligence efforts toward his proposed acquisition of the company.

Best Buy reportedly reached out to Schulze shortly after announcing quarterly earnings on Aug. 21 that missed Wall Street estimates, according to one of the unidentified sources, who also said that both parties could reach an agreement later this week.

Anaheim, Calif. -- Pacific Sunwear of California Inc. reported Wednesday a loss of $17.5 million for the second quarter, narrowed from a loss of $19.3 million in the year-ago period.

Results were boosted by a 5% sales in the quarter ended July 28 – to $210.3 million, from $200.9 million last year. Wall Street expected $203.1 million in revenue.

Same-store sales climbed 5%, which included a 7% rise in PacSun’s men’s division and a 2% rise on the women’s side.
 

SAN FRANCISCO — Williams-Sonoma is betting it can replicate its highly successful formula internationally, with the opening of new stores in Sydney, Australia.

Fort Meyers, Fla. -- Chico's FAS Inc.'s second-quarter net income surged a better-than-expected 22% amid increased sales across its brands. The retailer, which has now topped analyst estimates for the last three quarters, raised the low-end of its 2012 revenue outlook, citing its performance for the first half of the year. 

Chico's earned $52.4 million for the period ended July 28, compared with $42.8 million in the same  period last year.

By Taqi Mohiuddin, [email protected]

The stakes are rising in retailing. 

NEW YORK — Aeropostale, a mall-based specialty retailer of casual and active apparel for young women and men, announced that Emilia Fabricant will be joining the company as EVP of the Aeropostale brand. Fabricant will be responsible for all aspects of design, merchandising and production for the brand, and will report to Thomas Johnson, CEO.

NEW YORK — Uniqlo has introduced a new tennis line modeled after the performance apparel worn by top-ranked male professional tennis playe, Novak Djokovic. The line will launch in the United States on Aug. 27 and in other markets around the world at a later date, details of which will be announced in due course.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Mattel's highly-anticipated Apptivity line, which the company introduced at the 2012 Toy Fair in February, is now available for the iPad.

At the Toy Fair, representatives for Mattel demonstrated how Apptivity allows kids to take a physical toy, such as a Hot Wheels car and play with it on the screen of an iPad. Other brands now available through the Apptivity line include Fisher-Price, Monster High and WWE.