Data & Analytics

By Tom Caporaso, CEO of Clarus Marketing Amazon Prime’s recent decision to raise its annual membership fee probably didn’t come as a surprise to anyone within the online retail or subscription e-commerce industries. The company had been talking about increasing its subscription fees by $20 to $40 since at least January, so the biggest news might have been the price point Amazon chose.

Bolingbrook, Ill. -- Ulta Beauty’s fiscal fourth-quarter earnings rose 9.5% on better-than-expected sales. The fast-growing beauty products retailer plans to add 100 net new stores, expanding square footage by 15% and remodel 12 locations in its current fiscal year.

“Ulta Beauty achieved excellent top line growth in the fourth quarter,” said Mary Dillon, CEO. “We delivered earnings growth consistent with our expectations and made significant progress with our key growth strategies.”

Kearney, Neb. –- The impact of an extra week in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 helped drive down net income and sales at The Buckle during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013. On a year-over-year basis, net income dropped 3% to $59.4 million from $61.3 million, while net sales declined 6% to $339 million from $360.6 million. Same-store sales for the quarter decreased 2.8%.

Hibbett Sports experienced a significant slowdown in January due to significant weather-related store closures and a less favorable sales impact this year from the college football championship game. However, sales trends improved in February as weather patterns normalized and the retailer rolled out its spring assortment. Net sales for the 13-week period ended Feb. 1 increased 0.2% to $217.8 million compared with $217.4 million for the 14-week period ended Feb. 2, 2013. Comparable store sales increased 1.7% on a comparable 13-week period.

Lynnwood, Wash. - Net income in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 at Zumiez Inc. increased 17.3% to $26.9 million, from $22.9 million last year. Net sales increased 1.1% to $226.8 million from $224.4 million, although same-store sales dropped 2.2%. Results for the quarter include a $5.8 million benefit related to Zumiez’ acquisition of Blue Tomato. Zumiez plans to open up to 55 new stores during fiscal 2014, including as many as seven in Canada and five in Europe.

After a 15% fourth-quarter same-store sales decline, Aeropostale is looking to accelerate the pace of previously announced store closures, further reduce an already limited store expansion program and has secured new financial flexibility from a private equity firm.

By Melanie Nuce, VP. Apparel/General Merchandise, GS1 US On a Saturday late in December, days away from Christmas, Saturday Night Live’s resident Weekend Update host offered an insightful quip about the state of retail. Toys “R” Us announced this week that its stores will remain open for 87 straight hours leading up to Christmas. Not to be outdone, the Internet announced that it will be open all the time, always and forever,” he read, followed by roars of laughter from the live audience.

On the heels of record growth in 2013, Ulta Beauty plans to open 100 new stores this year and increase funding for e-commerce and loyalty initiatives.