eCommerce

Sidney, Neb. -- Cabela’s Inc. reported Thursday that net income for the first quarter rose a record 62% to $28.8 million, from $17.8 million last year.

Revenue increased 6.3% to $623.5 million, and same-store sales increased 4.2%.

"This strong performance gives us confidence our growth strategy is working and working well," said Tommy Millner, Cabela's CEO.

San Francisco -- The Gymboree Corp. reported Wednesday that it narrowed its loss in the quarter ended Jan. 28 to $24.9 million, compared with a loss of $47.3 million a year earlier.

Sales for the quarter increased 11.9% to $355.8 million, from $318.0 million last year. Same-store sales rose 6%.

The company announced that it plans to open 105 new stores in fiscal 2012, including 80 Crazy 8 stores.
 

With 24 million unique visitors during March, Target.com was ranked 47th on the comScore Media Metrix listing of the top 50 U.S. Web properties for March. That’s an improvement from March 2011 when Target didn’t crack the top 50. The only other conventional retailer in the top 50 was 25th ranked Walmart.com with 39 million unique visitors. It was ranked 33rd last year with 31.7 million unique visitors in March.
 

By Jason S. Baker

New York -- A Wednesday report by Reuters said that the Mexican federal comptroller’s office has given the go-ahead to open an investigation into allegations that Wal-Mart Mexico bribed officials to expand its business in the country.

"If wrongdoing attributable to federal public officials is detected, the federal government will take action," the office said.
 

HOUSTON — Mid-price apparel retailer Stage Stores has named Steven Lawrence as chief merchandising officer, effective April 30. Lawrence will be responsible for all of the merchandising, planning and allocation functions of the company.

Prior to joining Stage Stores, Lawrence spent 11 years with JCPenney, where he was most recently co-chief merchant EVP GMM men’s, kids and home.

New York -- Jones Group Inc. reported Wednesday that it swung to a first-quarter loss of $1.2 million, compared with a profit of $25.7 million in the year-ago period. Costs of closing stores, paying severance, acquisitions and a strategic review impacted the results, which still surpassed analysts’ expectations.

Revenue for the manufacturer and retailer of brands such as Nine West, Jones New York and Stuart Weitzman slipped 2.6% to $936 million in the quarter ended March 31, missing Wall Street’s expected $937.3 million in revenue.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings has expanded the availability of its in-store professional apparel shop to 91 Sears and Kmart stores nationwide. The concept, called, "Scrubology," is already open in 39 stores and offers work apparel and uniforms for professionals in industrial, service and healthcare fields.

The concept is a partnership with Work 'N Gear.