Data & Analytics

Minneapolis -- Christopher & Banks Corp. narrowed its fiscal fourth-quarter loss as the company received a boost from an extra week of sales and cut costs.

The retailer posted a loss of $4.1 million for the 14 weeks through Feb. 2, compared with a loss of $53.2 million in the 13 weeks the year before.

Revenue was up 10%, to $116 million from $105.6 million. Same-store sales jumped 18.5%.

Total expenses fell 25% to $120 million.

New York -- Google came out on top, followed by Amazon and Apple, in a new survey by market research company Ipsos called “The Most Influential Brands in the United States 2013.” The survey, which asked U.S. consumers to rate 100 leading brands on a wide variety of attributes, determined that the dimensions or factors that drive a brand’s influence are: engagement; trustworthy; leading edge; corporate citizenship; and, presence.

BOLINGBROOK, Ill. — Ulta Beauty has named Scott Settersten CFO and assistant secretary, effective immediately. Settersten will report to Dennis Eck, interim CEO.

Settersten has been acting CFO and assistant secretary since October 2012. He previously served as VP accounting since 2010 and was responsible for accounting, tax and external reporting. In that role, he also oversaw investor relations and worked closely with the audit committee and board of directors. He joined Ulta Beauty in January 2005 as director of financial reporting.

DENVER — PaySimple, the cloud-based platform for managing and growing small businesses, has launched a redesigned mobile payment and business management iOS application accompanied by a new mobile credit card reader. The updated Run-Your-Business App offers service-based business owners the flexibility they need to operate their companies from anywhere and from a range of devices.

IRVING, Texas — Michaels Stores reported that net sales for the fourth quarter increased 8.5% to $1.5 billion from $1.4 billion for the same period last year. Quarterly same-store sales increased 1.7% driven by a 2.3% increase in average ticket and a 0.6% decrease in transactions. 

The company reported that operating income increased 13.7% to $266 million, and as a percent of net sales increased 80 basis points to 17.5%. Net income increased to $112 million, and as a percent of net sales, increased 40 basis points to 7.3%.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Express, a specialty retail apparel chain operating more than 620 stores, reported that fourth quarter net sales increased 8% to $728.7 million from $673.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. Comparable sales increased 1.5%, following a 5% increase in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Net income was $63.9 million, or 75 cents per diluted share. This compares to net income of $60.4 million, or 68 cents per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2011.

First quarter same store sales are expected to increase in the high teens at Cabela’s and drive earnings substantially higher than analysts’ estimates, the retailer said late Tuesday in advance of an investor conference today.

Cabela’s reported a firearms and ammunition driven 12% same store sales increase for its fourth quarter ended December 29, 2012. When those results were released a month ago the company said the favorable trends seen in the fourth quarter had accelerated into the first quarter.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — DollarDays.com, an online wholesale distributor, has recently joined forces with Bongo International to offer customers located worldwide the same discounts and service that U.S. clients have enjoyed for over 12 years. Bongo International is a global e-commerce solution providing U.S. retailers access to international markets with no change to their current operations.

WASHINGTON — The Department of Commerce reported that retail sales for the month of February rose by 1.1% seasonally adjusted month to month.

The newly released figures include nongeneral merchandise categories, such as automobiles, gas stations and restaurants; excluding those, sales rose 0.7%, while rising 0.5% unadjusted year over year. The National Retail Federation noted that sales beat estimates as consumers adapted and adjusted spending in response to higher gas prices and the payroll tax increase.

Minneapolis -- Target Corp. said it has completed the sale of its entire consumer credit card portfolio to TD Bank Group for $5.7 billion, the gross value of the outstanding receivables at the time of closing.