Sales & Marketing

New York -- Fleur du Mal, a recently launched online retailer of women’s specialty apparel, is deploying the Usablenet U-Experience platform and Acadaca e-commerce platform to support a new personalized mobile web shopping experience for its customers. The site is optimized for fast mobile navigation and has dynamic feeds to and direct integration with Instagram and Twitter.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Footwear and accessories retailer DSW reported net sales for the first quarter ended May 4 of $601 million, an increase of 7.7% from $559 million for last year's first quarter. Comparable sales for the quarter decreased by 2.4%, following an increase of 7.6% during the 13-week period ended April 28, 2012.

New York -- Nickelodeon has opened a 'Nick Shop' on the first level of the Toys "R" Us flagship in New York City’s Times Square.

Los Angeles – A survey from online shopping site PriceGrabber indicates U.S. consumers are leaning toward practical Father’s Day gifts this year. Almost four-in-10 (38%) consumers plan to purchase practical Father’s Day presents this year, such as tools, auto accessories or appliances.

Nearly one-fifth of respondents (18%) are planning to shop for a tech-type gift such as a computer, tablet or smartphone. Forty-five percent of men plan to buy a practical gift, compared to 33% of women.

Cincinnati – As part of its annual Executive Development Program (EDP) and summer internship program, Macy’s Inc. has hired more than 1,000 college students this spring. Hires include 695 recent college graduates for full-time EDP positions, which serve as entry-level executive training positions.

In addition, 325 current college students have been hired for a variety of internships with Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s.

ST. LOUIS — Brown Shoe Company Inc. reported a net loss and declining net sales in first quarter 2013 as the company cited the impact of having exited some businesses in the past year.

The retailer experienced a net loss of $10.8 million, compared to net earnings of $1.7 million a year earlier. Net sales declined about 1% to $588.7 million from $598.2 million.

However, Brown Shoe said that taking $10.4 million in net sales from exited brands during the first quarter of last year into account, net sales actually slightly improved this year.

Columbus, Ohio -- DSW Inc. experienced drops in both net income and same-store sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2013. Net income declined about 13%, dropping to $34.5 million from $39.9 million in the year-ago period, amid hefty one-time charges. Its results, however, beat analyst expectations.

For the quarter ended May 4, same-store sales declined 2.4%. In one bright spot, sales rose almost 8% to $601.4 million, from $558.6 million.

NEW YORK — Tiffany & Co. has appointed former Cartier executive Anthony Ledru as the company’s SVP of Northern America.

“As a member of the senior management team, Anthony will drive sales results in our largest region, composed of the United States and Canada, while contributing a key voice to the articulation of the global brand,” said EVP Frederic Cumenal.