Business Analytics

Minneapolis – Christopher & Banks Corp. on Tuesday swung to a profit of $32.2 million for the fourth quarter, after reporting a loss in the same period a year earlier.

Net sales totaled $98.0 million, as compared to $104.9 million for the year-ago period. During the quarter, the company operated an average of 7.0% fewer stores than during the comparable period last year, reflecting its store conversion program.

The retailer posted revenue of $98 million in the period.

Canton, Mass. - Jack Clare, 44, has been promoted to the newly created position of chief information and strategy officer (CISO) of Dunkin’ Brands. Clare, who has served as the company's CIO for the past three years, will be a member of the Dunkin' Brands leadership team and will continue to report to Paul Carbone, CFO.

Clare will continue to oversee Dunkin' Brands' global information technology resources, and additionally, will now focus on developing the strategies that will drive the company's future success.

Clean, quiet and efficient are the benefits 99 Cents Only expects to derive from a switch to natural gas fueled vehicles at its main distribution center in California.

The extreme value retailer said it opened a fully operational compressed natural gas (CNG) filling station on site at the company's main distribution center in the Los Angeles suburb of City of Commerce. The move is the final step in the company's plan to adopt a green approach to a private fleet operation that serves 383 stores in California, Arizona, Nevada and Texas.

New York -- The collapse of oil prices translates into a huge tax cut for 90% of the economy, former CNBC host, economist and newspaper columnist Larry Kudlow told attendees at Chain Store Age’s 51st annual SPECS show. Kudlow was a keynoter at the event, which was held at the Sands Expo, Venetian/Palazzo Hotel, Las Vegas, March 15 – 16, and brought together retail executives in store planning & design, construction and facilities.
 

New York – New York & Company Inc. reported a net loss of $6.7 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, compared to net income of $6.9 million in the same quarter a year earlier. A variety of costs, including increased selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses as well as expenses related to relocation of corporate headquarters and severance, contributed to New York & Company’s negative profit results.

Omaha, Neb. – Net income at Gordmans Stores Inc. dropped 15% to $2.3 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, from $2.7 million the same period a year earlier. Increased selling, general and administrative (SG&A) costs helped push down profits.

In 2015, the company plans to open six new stores, two of which opened in the Cleveland area earlier in March. Gordmans also plans to close one store later in 2015 when the lease term expires.

A strengthening dollar hurt Tiffany & Co. a lot more than Wall Street was expecting in the fourth quarter, as the upscale jeweler reported a surprising sales decline.

Mattress Firm Holding Corp. is revving up its growth in fiscal 2015, with plans to open as many as 220 new stores this year.

Los Angeles -- Guess reported a better-than-expected fourth quarter profit amid a 37% jump in the company’s online business and falling expenses. The apparel retailer, however, forecast a disappointing 2015, primarily due to the stronger U.S. dollar (1,190 of Guess’1,668 stores are located outside the United States and about 45% of its revenue comes from international markets).

Guess income fell to $53.9 million for the fourth quarter, ended Jan. 31, from $69.6 million a year earlier.

San Francisco -- Williams-Sonoma set a milestone in 2014 as it reported that, for the first time ever, e-commerce sales made up more than 50% of all yearly revenues.

Williams-Sonoma said its fourth quarter net revenues grew 5.2% to $1.542 billion versus $1.466 billion in the prior year quarter.

Same-store sales grew of 5.1%.