Data & Analytics

New York – Ann Inc. reported better-than-expected income and sales for the third quarter. The retailer Ann Inc. posted third-quarter earnings of $41.2 million, compared to $40.7 million in the year-earlier quarter.  

Net sales grew 7% to $657.3 million from $612.5 million. Total same-store sales increased 3.7%. By brand, same-store sales inched up 0.6% at Ann Taylor and 5.6% at Loft. However, sales fell 6.9% in the Ann Taylor Factory channel.

Despite its continuing turnaround efforts, Sears Holdings widened its loss in the third quarter after sales fell at both Sears and Kmart.

The company reported a net loss for the quarter ended Nov. 2 of $534 million, or $5.03 a share, from $498 million, or $4.70 a share, a year earlier.

Redmond, Wash. -- Canadian pharmacy retailer The Jean Coutu Group Inc. has selected Microsoft Dynamics for Retail to manage all its retail operations, from its headquarters down to the point-of-sale devices in stores. Jean Coutu will deploy Microsoft Dynamics to more than 400 stores, 3,000 POS systems and 11,500 devices with implementation to start in 2014.

Evanston, Ill. -- Walgreens on Thursday opened what is believed to be the nation’s first net zero energy retail store (a net zero building produces energy equal to or greater than it consumes). Located in Evanston, Ill., the store features two wind turbines, nearly 850 solar panels and a geothermal system burrowed 550 ft. into the ground. Engineering estimates indicate that the new Walgreens will use 200,000 kilowatt hours per year of electricity while generating 220,000 kilowatt hours per year.

New York -- Bon-Ton Stores narrowed its loss in the third quarter to $931,000, compared with a loss of $10.1 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue dipped 3% to $651.2 million from $668.7 million, narrowly missing analysts’ expected $671.2 million in revenue.

Same-store sales fell 2.8%.

San Jose, Calif. -- Tech-savvy shoppers overwhelmingly look for ways to use smartphones and the Internet to save time and money while shopping in stores, according to new research from Cisco.

Staples has named Tom Conophy as EVP, chief information officer, overseeing all aspects of Staples’ global IT organization. He will report directly to Ron Sargent, Staples’ chairman and CEO, and will serve on the Staples executive committee.

New York -- Stage Stores said Thursday that its fiscal third-quarter loss widened as some expenses rose. The company cut its fiscal 2013 adjusted earnings forecast.

The department store retailer lost $11 million for the period ended Nov. 2, compared to a loss of $8.9 million.

Revenue declined 3% to $360.2 million, from $370.6 million. Same-store sales fell 4.6%.

Selling, general and administrative expenses climbed to $98.6 million from $92.5 million during the quarter. Interest expense increased to $718,000 from $568,000.