Distribution

Despite reporting ho-hum sales for July, Costco said Thursday that its comps for the fourth quarter and fiscal year were up an impressive 6%.

Philadelphia -- Teen and tween fave Five Below Inc. may not be meeting sales projections, but it remains on track for store expansion, with plans to open a total of 70 net new stores during fiscal 2015, including 16 net new stores in the third quarter.

The company, where every item costs no more than $5, is achieving its profitability targets, but doing so with productivity improvement in its selling space that is surprisingly weak given the newness of its store base.

Fast-growing online furnishings retailer Wayfair.com plans to host a “Shark Tank-like” business competition for entrepreneurs.

Winners of the "Kitchen Cabinet" contest will receive a $2,500 home office makeover and a business consultation from the home furnishings and decor e-tailer.

Wayfair said the event will take place Oct. 2 and its Heart Home conference, a three-day gathering of bloggers, designers, and other entrepreneurs, at the Boston Copley Marriott. Participants must enter by Sept. 15.

Regional supermarket chain Haggen’s acquisition of 146 Albertsons and Safeway stores has been a disaster and the reasons why are detailed in a new lawsuit that heaps blame of the parent company of divested stores.

Evansville, Ind. -- Shoe Carnival Inc. kicked up its heels about its profit in the second quarter, but missed on sales.

Aided by higher merchandise margins and lower advertising expenses, Shoe Carnival reported net earnings of $4.8 million, up 84% from $2.6 million a year earlier. Its results easily beat estimates.

Net sales rose 2% $227.8 million, less than expected, from $222.1 million. Same-store sales rose 0.5%.

Shoe Carnival plans to open 21 new stores and close 15 stores by the end of fiscal 2015.

The acquisition of Family Dollar in the second quarter led Dollar Tree Inc. to report quarterly sales that were up more than 48% from a year ago.

For the second quarter ended Aug. 1, Dollar Tree reported sales of $3.01 billion, boosted by $811.6 million in sales from Family Dollar. Same store sales rose 2.7%. Dollar Tree reported income of $138.9 million. The retailer’s earnings were 67 cents.

Brisbane, Calif. – Bebe Stores Inc. continues to expand its global presence.

Bebe announced it has signed a five-year strategic cooperation agreement with Shanghai-based brand agency Longgoal LLC to open between 60 and 150 Bebe stores, shop-in-shops and third-party retailers in Greater China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. The first store is expected to open in the summer of 2016.

Irving, Texas – Better timing of distribution expenses, the elimination of operating costs of 40 shuttered stores and an improved merchandising strategy helped drive sales growth at Michaels in the second quarter.

The retailer posted net income of $35.7 million in the second quarter, compared to a net loss of $48.6 million in the same period a year earlier.