Business Analytics

Francesca’s Holdings is looking for a new CEO after the abrupt departure of former Chairman, President and CEO Michael Barnes and weaker than expected first quarter guidance caused the company’s shares to plummet.

Atlanta-based The Home Depot reported first-quarter sales of $22.8 billion during what CEO Craig Menear described as a "stronger than expected start to the year." Comp-store sales for the quarter were up 6.5% - with comps for the U.S. stores up 7.4%. Net earnings for the three months ended May 1 were $1.8 billion, up 14.2% compared with net earnings of $1.6 billion in the same quarter last year.

The ubiquity of consumer smartphones offers retailers a new purchase channel, as well as a new tool for customer outreach. According to the fourth quarter 2015 Mobile Wallet Report from Nielsen, 37% of more than 3,700 U.S. adult smartphone and tablet users said their purchases start with mobile shopping more than one-quarter to half of the time.

Even luxury department stores got no love from shoppers in the first quarter. Following a pattern set by Macy’s and Kohl’s, Nordstrom reported dismal results for the first quarter, including a steep drop in profit, with the only positive sign being the company’s off-price division. The retailer lowered its full-year outlook.

The Department of Labor's (DOL) proposed overtime regulations are one step closer to becoming a reality for the American workforce. On March 14, 2016, the DOL submitted their final version of the regulations to the White House's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, signifying the last step in the regulation becoming law.

Party City Holdco Inc. narrowed its loss in the first quarter as gross margins improved. The party supplies retailer and wholesaler reported a loss of $394,000, in line with Wall Street expectations, for the quarter ended March 31, down from a loss of $8.5 million in the year-ago period. Total revenue was flat at $457.7 million, which missed Street forecasts.

Slow traffic at its California stores proved a drag for Costco Wholesale Corp. in April.

The retailer reported flat same-store sales in April, below analysts’ estimates of a 1.2% increase.

Total sales in April rose 3% to $8.98 billion, helped by strength in Canada.

Excluding gasoline-price fluctuations and currency exchange rates, U.S. same-store sales rose 2%, below estimates for growth of 3.4%. Same-store sales in Canada increased 2% overall and 7% when excluding gas prices and currency.

Whole Foods Market reported better-than-expected earnings for the second quarter amid cost controls that helped lessen the impact of slowing sales.

Net income was a better-than-expected $142 million for the quarter ended April 10.

Sales inched up 1.3% to $3.7 billion, slightly below estimates.

L Brands turned in a disappointing sales performance in April, a rarity for a chain that has turned in consistently strong monthly results.

The parent company of Victoria’s Secret reported a 1% increase in same-store sales, below Wall Street expectations of a 4.8% gain.

Sales for the month increased to $737.5 million, up from $724.6 million in the same month last year.

The company’s Bath & Body Works division saw a 5% increase in same-store sales while Victoria's Secret posted a 1% decrease.

The employees who once greeted shoppers with a friendly “Welcome to Walmart” are making a comeback.

Walmart is reviving and updating its door-greeter program in an effort to improve customer service and also deter shoplifting.

The greeters were the invention of company founder Sam Walton, who saw them as a way to put a friendly face on the chain’s large stores. But in recent years, most of the employees who served as greeters were moved to other parts of the store.