Data & Analytics

San Francisco -- Williams-Sonoma on Wednesday reported better-than-expected second-quarter profit amid same-strong sales. The retailer raised its full-year forecast, but its profit outlook still fell short of market expectations.

The company also announced that it will expand its international presence, adding more stores in Australia and entering the United Kingdom later this year, and debuting in the Philippines in 2014.

Seattle – Amazon.com has introduced the Mobile Associates API for Kindle Fire and other Android devices, enabling developers to sell physical and digital items from Amazon.com within their apps and games. Developers and members of the Amazon Associates program (the API is technically an extension of the program) can now sell a single item from within an app or game, showcase a category of goods, or bundle the purchase of physical goods with the purchase of digital goods.

San Francisco – Twitter has reportedly hired former Ticketmaster president Nathan Hubbard to take the new role of head of commerce. According to Bloomberg, the 38-year-old Hubbard will oversee an effort to enable direct shopping through postings within tweets.

Hubbard is quoted as saying he does not seek to directly compete with established e-commerce retailers and payment providers but instead hopes to collaborate with them, possibly through a revenue-sharing model. He will report to Adam Bain, head of global revenue at Twitter.

Fort Myers, Fla. -- Chico’s FAS reported an 18.4% decline in second quarter net profit, after increased promotional activity took a toll on same-store sales. 

Chico’s net income totaled $43.6 million from $53.4 million in the year-ago period.

Foothill Ranch, Calif. -- The Wet Seal Inc. swung to a profit in the second quarter, reporting net income of $1 million, compared to a net loss of $12.4 million a year earlier. The retailer also announced it is introducing its Wet Seal Plus Collection, previously available only online, to 36 stores, on Aug. 30.

In addition, net sales totaled $137.2 million, up about 1% from $135.3 million in the second quarter of 2012. Same store sales grew 3.7%, while e-commerce sales remained flat. Overall results were in line with Zack’s consensus estimates.

Columbus, Ohio -- Express Inc. reported a profitable second quarter of fiscal 2013, with year-over-year increases in net income, net sales and same-store sales. Net income rose 7% to $16.8 million, in line with Wall Street expectations, from $15.9 million. The retailer raised its full-year guidance and also announced plans to launch its outlet business in the second quarter of next year.

Net sales for the quarter increased a better-than-expected 7% to $486.2 million, from $454.9 million.

Naperville, Ill. -- OfficeMax Inc. announced the opening of its first Chicago-area Business Solutions Center format, with a 3,900-sq.-ft. location in the Streeterville neighborhood.

Naperville, Ill. — OfficeMax Inc. has opened a new Business Solutions Center store format in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood.

The new 3,900-sq.-ft. concept store provides a portfolio of services and solutions including marketing support, website design, document, IT, cloud storage and shipping services. Merchandising includes an in-store online kiosk where products can be purchased and shipped directly to customers.

Walgreens has entered into a partnership with Orlando Health, a comprehensive nonprofit healthcare organization based in Orlando, Fla., to provide coordinated and expanded healthcare services to its customers. 

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Chico's FAS’s financial results for the second quarter ended Aug. 3 were affected by a lower transaction count and average dollar sales, primarily because of lower traffic and the cycling of strong comparable sales last year.

The company reported net income of $43.6 million for the quarter — a decrease of 18.4% compared to $53.4 million in the year-ago quarter, and earnings per diluted share of $0.27, a decrease of 15.6% compared to $0.32 per diluted share in the year-ago quarter.