Supply Chain & Merchandising

Improved merchandising and e-commerce initiatives helped Shoe Carnival post first quarter gains in profits, earnings and sales.

The company reported that net sales increased $17 million to a first quarter record of $252.8 million, as compared to net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2014. Same store sales increased 3%. Earnings per diluted share for the first quarter increased 15.6% to 52 cents.

Fort Myers, Fla. – Chico’s FAS announced that CEO and president David F. Dyer intends to retire in spring 2016, at the end of the company’s fiscal year.

He will remain in his current role until a successor is appointed, and will remain on the board in the newly-created role of vice chairman until June 2016. The women’s specialty apparel retailer has retained executive search firm Herbert Mines Associates to assist in finding a new chief executive.

Seattle - Auburn University's new RFID Lab held its grand opening May 21, during which Amazon.com announced a joint project with the university to explore the business case for the implementation of RFID within the Amazon supply chain. Amazon has utilized RFID technology in its fulfillment centers, where customer orders are picked from shelves, moved on conveyers and loaded onto trucks for rapid shipping and delivery.

The CEO of Lumber Liquidators has resigned just a few months after the company became embroiled in an investigation over wood products imported from China.

The company said Robert Lynch resigned “unexpectedly” and that it intends to commence a national search for Lynch's replacement. In the interim, Thomas D. Sullivan, the company's founder, will serve as the acting chief executive officer of the company.

Chesapeake, Va. – Dollar Tree Inc. plans to sell about 330 Family Dollar stores to obtain Federal Trade Commission (FTC) approval of its pending $8.5 billion acquisition of Family Dollar Stores.  

The company has not identified the buyer, the sale amount or which stores will be closed. The 330 Family Dollar stores represent about $45.5 million in operating income, according to Dollar Tree. Dollar Tree expects the Family Dollar purchase to go through in July 2015.

Bon-Ton Stores Inc. cited growth in the e-commerce channel as among the reasons for the company's slight increase in same store sales in the first quarter.

Jacksonville, Fla. – Earnings dipped at Stein Mart Inc. during the first quarter of fiscal 2015, even as net sales improved. Net income fell 3% to $13.6 million from $14.1 million a year earlier, with higher loan interest expense a major contributor.

Net sales increased 7% to $353.5 million, from $328.9 million. Same-store sales rose 4.8%. Higher store traffic and e-commerce sales boosted same-store sales results.

L Brands is showing that it continues to be a bright spot in a volatile specialty retail environment with its latest quarterly results.

The company raised its full-year adjusted earnings guidance to $3.50 to $3.70 a share, from its previous forecast for $3.45 to $3.65. The retailer reported profit of $250.5 million, or 84 cents a share, in the three months ended May 2, up from $157 million, or 53 cents a share, in the prior year period. Sales rose 5% to $2.5 billion.