Supply Chain & Merchandising

Westlake Village, Calif. -- Hhgregg ranks highest in appliance retailer customer satisfaction, followed by Lowe’s, according to the J.D. Power 2014 Appliance Retailer Satisfaction Study. The survey found that a knowledgeable sales staff providing a prompt, courteous and engaging customer service experience helps drive satisfaction with home appliance retailer.

Though sales were up 3% and income increased 1% for WD-40 Company in the third quarter, shares for the lubricants and cleaner supplier were down more than 6% Thursday morning after management narrowed the full-year guidance.

Net sales for the quarter came in at $95.7 million, up from $93.1 million in the same quarter last year. This was largely carried by sales of multi-purpose maintenance products; sales of homecare and cleaning products decreased 1%.

New York -- Retail sales generally improved in June, helped by good weather and big discounts as retailers look to clear inventory for the back-to-school season.
 
Costco Wholesale Corp. reported a 6% increase in June same-store sales, helped by higher fuel prices. Its results topped Wall Street estimates.

Excluding the impact of foreign exchange rates and gasoline prices, Costco’s same-store sales increased 6% for the five-week period ended July 6. The metric rose 5% in the United States and 7% overseas.  

Edison, N.J. -- Kevin Mead, the former senior VP, director of Stores for The Children's Place, has joined the senior team at Aerosoles as executive VP, retail reporting directly to CEO Jules Schneider. Mead will lead the strategic direction, ongoing expansion and operations of Aerosoles retail and outlet locations.

Orlando, Fla. -- Nordstrom announced plans to shutter its store in the Florida Mall Orlando, Florida. Originally opened in 2002, the store will close its doors on August 16, 2014.

Toano, Va. – Lumber Liquidators reported a 7.1% decline in same-store sales and reduced its outlook for new store openings and earnings in a business update for the second quarter of fiscal 2014. Net sales for the quarter grew 2.3% to $263.1 million, from $257.1 million in the second quarter of 2013, well below Wall Street estimates of $303 million.

Lumber Liquidators doesn’t report its second-quarter results until July 31. But reduced customer traffic along with weak macroeconomic trends related to residential remodeling and a drop in home sales have prompted the company to revisit its outlook for the quarter and full year.

The company’s net sales for the quarter increased 2.3% to $263.1 million, from $257.1 million in the prior-year quarter. At comparable stores, however, net sales decreased 7.1% for the quarter, in comparison to an increase of 14.9% for the second quarter of the prior year.  

Retail sales generally improved in June, helped by good weather and big discounts as retailers look to clear inventory for the back-to-school season.
 
Costco Wholesale Corp. reported a 6% increase in June same-store sales, helped by higher fuel prices. Its results topped Wall Street estimates.

Excluding the impact of foreign exchange rates and gasoline prices, Costco’s same-store sales increased 6% for the five-week period ended July 6. The metric rose 5% in the United States and 7% overseas.