Sales & Marketing

Hibbett Sports reported fiscal second-quarter net income of $6.5 million, beating Wall Street expectations.   The sporting goods retailer posted revenue of $206.9 million in the period, a 3.9% increase but falling short of Street forecasts. Analysts expected $210.1 million.   Same-store sales inched up 0.8%.  

Dollar General is moving into North Dakota, announcing that it has begun construction on five new stores in the state. This gives the discount retailer a footprint in 44 states after having established operations in Maine, Oregon, and Rhode Island in 2015.   The initial North Dakota locations will be in Ellendale, Gwinner, Hankinson, Hillsboro, and Oakes. They’re being built in the chain’s standard 9,100-sq.-ft. format.  

Fred’s on Friday announced that it had promoted its VP pharmacy services, Timothy Liebmann, to the newly created position of COO pharmacy, effective immediately. Liebmann will be succeeding the company’s retiring executive VP pharmacy operations, Rick Chambers.  

Home Depot's chief merchant Ted Decker pointed to solid performance of core maintenance and repair categories, as well as many pro-focused categories during the second quarter.   So it's no wonder he said the company was "pleased" with its Q2 results.  

Apple has opened its 10th store in New York City, inside the shopping area at the new World Trade Center Transportation hub in lower Manhattan.   The store draws inspiration from the surrounding structure, which was designed by Santiago Calatrava, to create a seamless space. The interior design is fairly standard for Apple, with the exception of a huge video wall and seating area.   

The Bon-Ton Stores reduced its loss in the second quarter amid fewer markdowns and inventory controls, but sales fell as mall traffic remained soft.   The retailer posted a loss of $38.7 million in the quarter ended July 30, compared with a net loss of $39.6 million in the year-ago period.   Total sales fell 2.4% to $542.4 million, compared with $555.4 million last year. Same-store sales were down 2.0%.  

Simon has opened the doors on a new 155,000-sq.-ft. wing at its King of Prussia Mall that connects the five-anchor Plaza and two-anchor Court. The Pennsylvania mega-mall’s footprint now encompasses 2.9 million sq. ft.   Longtime tenants Burberry, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, and Tiffany relocated to the new addition. Some 50 new stores will populate the space, led by high-fashion and luxury brands such as Calligaris, David Yurman, Jimmy Choo, CH Caroline Herrera, and Diane von Furstenberg.   

CVS Health and the CVS Health Foundation on Thursday announced a $100,000 donation in cash and in-kind support to organizations providing relief efforts to flood victims in central Louisiana, including the Salvation Army USA Southern Territory and the American Red Cross.