Supply Chain & Merchandising

New York -- Aeropostale Inc. decreased its loss in the fourth quarter, and reported its first adjusted operating profit in its last eight quarters. But the struggling teen apparel retailer said it is considering potentially closing approximately 50 to 75 Aeropostale stores and one P.S. Store in 2015.

Aeropostale's net loss narrowed to $13.5 million in the fourth quarter ended Jan. 31, down from $70.3 million a year earlier.

Net sales fell 11.3% to $593.8 million. Comparable sales declined 9%.

David Tehle, executive vice president and CFO at Dollar General, will retire from the company effective July 1. The retailer has started a search for a successor and will consider both internal and external candidates for the job.

The news comes as Dollar General prepares the retail industry’s most aggressive new store expansion plan.

St. Clairsville, Ohio -- Ulta Beauty and Sincerely Yogurt will both open at Ohio Valley Mall this year. Sincerely Yogurt will debut first, opening a 1,275-sq.-ft. location late spring 2015. Ulta Beauty will open a 9,700-sq.-ft. store near Sears by early fall.  The construction of the new Ulta will introduce a new, exterior doorway providing direct access from the mall parking area.

Owned by Cafaro Company, the recently renovated Ohio Valley Mall is located on I-70, Exit 218-Mall Road, in St. Clairsville, Ohio.  
 

After five consecutive quarters of declining same-store sales, teen retailer the Buckle may be coming out of its slump.

The Nebraska-based company reported net sales of $353.5 million, 4.3% higher than the year-ago quarter. Same store sales grew 1.1%. Net income rose by about 1.3% to $60.1 million, producing earnings of $1.25 per share, ahead of analysts’ estimates.

Port Washington, N.Y. – Consumer electronics retailer Tiger Direct, a subsidiary of Systemax, has decided to focus on its online territory. Tiger Direct is shuttering 31 of its 34 U.S.-based and international stores.

Gordon Brothers Group subsidiary DJM Real Estate is handling the disposal of 27 Tiger Direct stores in the U.S. and Canada. The stores, which range in size from 14,000 to 33,400-sq.-ft, can be subleased or have their leases purchased outright.
 

Express is going full-steam ahead with its outlet-store strategy, with plans to open 30-plus stores in 2015. The retailer ended the year with 41 outlet stores in operation.

“Together they generated approximately $55 million of incremental revenue, far surpassing our initial estimate,” said Paul Dascoli, senior VP and CFO, Express, on the chain’s quarterly earnings call. Express is expanding its outlet store division both through new construction and conversions.

Freeport, Maine – L.L. Bean Inc. intends to almost triple its store count by 2020. In an internal company memo distributed Wednesday, March 11, L.L. Bean told employees it will open four stores in 2015 and at least 100 by 2020.

Currently, L.L. Bean operates 26 stores and 10 outlets in the U.S. The retailer does not have any stores west of Colorado, but plans to open new stores in the Pacific Northwest. All new stores will be full-price locations. The memo was signed by CEO Chris McCormack, who plans to retire in 2016.

Aeropostale Inc. says it is considering closing as many as 75 additional stores despite reporting a smaller profit loss in the fourth quarter.

The company’s net loss narrowed to $13.5 million in the fourth quarter ended Jan. 31, down from $70.3 million a year earlier. Net sales fell 11.3% to $593.8 million. Comparable sales declined 9%. Aeropostale closed more than 180 stores over the three months that ended Jan. 31. It currently has about 850 stores in North America and another 239 licensed Aeropostale stores worldwide.