Sales & Marketing

Specialty apparel retailer Body Central has transformed its merchandising organization with four high level hires and the departure of former chief merchant Beth Angelo.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Lowe’s reported net earnings of $288 million and diluted earnings per share of 26 cents for the fourth quarter of 2012. As a result of the extra week in 2011, net earnings for the fourth quarter declined 10.6% and diluted earnings per share were flat from the fourth quarter of 2011. 

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Friday will open the doors to "Wag U," an internal education center replete with technology-enhanced classrooms, a mock drug store and video-conferencing capabilities. The new learning center will be the base of operations for employee educational programs offered online and in regional locations nationwide. 

Expenses related to Walmart’s ongoing Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and related compliance matters will reach $200 million by the end of the first quarter, according to disclosures made Thursday in conjunction with the release of fourth quarter financial results.

In addition to the $99 million Walmart had spent on FCPA and compliance matters at the end of the third quarter, it spent another $58 million during the fourth quarter and said the first quarter could see expenses ranging from $40 million to $45 million.

New Albany, Ohio -- Abercrombie & Fitch Co.’s net income rose to $157.2 million for the fourth quarter, compared with $45.8 million a year earlier for a 13-week period. The chain said its net income was calculated using a new system for valuing inventory
 
Sales rose 11% to $1.47 billion for the 14 weeks ended Feb. 2, led by a 34% rise in international sales. (The period, however, includes an extra week compared to year earlier.)

Salt Lake City -- Overstock.com said Friday it has named Stormy Simon and David Nielsen as co-presidents of the company.

Simon was previously SVP over customer and partner care and, with the promotion, will add oversight of warehouse logistics, press relations, social media and strategic marketing.  
 
Nielsen, promoted from SVP merchandising and supply chain, will add oversight of international sales, talent management and information technology.

CANTON, Mass. — Casual Male Retail Group, a specialty retailer of big and tall men's apparel and accessories, is changing its corporate name to Destination XL Group Inc. to reflect the company's transition to its Destination XL (DXL) retail stores and DestinationXL.com e-commerce website.

As previously announced, the company's ticker symbol was changed to "DXLG" effective Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012.  The name change will be effective as of Monday, Feb. 25, 2013.

President and CEO of Walmart Global eCommerce, Neil Ashe, made a cameo appearance during Walmart’s fourth quarter earnings presentation to shed light on omnichannel investments that caused the company to forecast 2013 profits below analysts’ estimates.

Walmart’s forecast first quarter earnings in the range of $1.11 to $1.16 and full year earnings in the range of $5.20 to $5.40. Embedded in those numbers are huge investments in ecommerce that will cost the company about nine cents a share.