Supply Chain & Merchandising

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — OfficeMax's sales were down for the third quarter, but the company managed to deliver higher net income growth during a period of executive transitions and a tough economy.

OfficeMax announced that total sales were $1.8 billion in the third quarter of 2011, a decrease of 2.1% from the third quarter of 2010.  For the third quarter of 2011, OfficeMax reported net income of $21.5 million, or 25 cents per diluted share, compared with $20 million, or 23 cents per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2010.  

Tampa, Fla. -- Orlando, Fla.-based Crossman & Co. said that it has negotiated a five-year lease at the Shoppes of Citrus Park, in Tampa, Fla.

Great Clips will open a 1,200-sq.-ft. shop at the Shoppes of Citrus Park.
 

New York City -- Prudential Douglas Elliman's Retail Group said Wednesday it has a arranged a long-term lease for The Harlem Wine Gallery at 752 Saint Nicholas Avenue, between 147th and 148th Streets in New York City.

The transaction is the second wine and spirit shop that the team has arranged on the corridor in recent months, following Unity Wines & Spirits at 704 Saint Nicholas Avenue.
 
 

Springfield, Mo. -- O’Reilly Automotive reported Thursday that net income for the third quarter rose 27% to $148 million, compared with $117 million in the year-ago period.

Sales increased 8% to $1.54 billion from $1.43 billion. Same-store sales rose 4.8%.

During the quarter, the company opened 50 new stores, bringing its store count to 3,707 in 39 states.
 

Toano, Va. -- Flooring retailer Lumber Liquidators reported Thursday that net income in the third quarter rose 57.2% to $6.7 million, compared with $4.3 million in the year-ago period.

Sales surged 16.8% to $172 million in the quarter, and same-store sales increased 3%.

The retailer has opened 33 new store locations in 2011, including six opened during the third quarter. It plans to open seven to nine new stores in the fourth quarter.

After two years of being in New York City in order to be closer to the center of the fashion industry in the United States, Walmart is moving its apparel office back to Bentonville, Ark.

St. Louis -- Build-A-Bear Workshop reported Thursday a profit of $0.9 million for the third quarter, compared with a loss of $1.4 million in the year-ago period.

Sales rose 3.1% to $95.4 million, and same-store sales increased 1.1%.

“We remain optimistic about our business and expect the ongoing implementation of our strategies to enable us to continue our positive performance,” said Maxine Clark, Build-A-Bear Workshop’s chairman and chief executive bear. International revenue surged 14%.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — A down economy means people are less likely to buy new cars, which means they will need to take care of the ones they do have, and that's good news for companies like O'Reilly Automotive, which reported sales and earnings growth for the third quarter.