Data & Analytics

New York – The fast-growing Francesca’s Holdings Corp. plans to open 76 stores in 2012.

The Houston-based women’s apparel and accessories retailer, which targets young women, has opened 21 new stores so far in 2012, with plans to open 55 additional locations by year-end.

Currently, Francesca’s operates 304 locations nationwide.

New York -- Retail executives are invited to attend the Microsoft Retail Roadshow, which will be held in Cambridge, Mass., on Thursday, March 29. The half-day event, which kicks off with breakfast at 8 a.m. and includes lunch, will explore ways that retailers can increase operational efficiency, lower costs and innovate to drive customer engagement.

The Retail Roadshow will be held at Microsoft Research New England, R&D Center, One Memorial Drive, First Floor, Cambridge, Mass.

Surging gas prices this spring could jeopardize Walmart’s tenuous same-store sales recovery as consumers have less disposable income and opt to shop at outlets closer to home. At least that was how the situation played out in the recent past when gas prices surged above $4. Are things different now?

OAKLAND, Calif. — Increased cutomer traffic and average ticket, helped drive comps at Cost Plus up 7.6% for the fourth quarter of 2011 on top of a 7.7% increase from the fourth quarter of last year. The company reported that net sales for the quarter were $364.3 million, a 6.7% increase compared with $341.6 million for the fourth quarter of last year. 

New York --  Lululemon Athletica Inc.’s income rose 34.2% to $73.5 million for the three months ended Jan. 29, from $54.8 million in the year ago period.

Revenue in the fourth quarter was up 51.4% to $371.5 million, from $245.4 million. Same-store sales increased 26%.

For the year, sales rose 40.6% to $1 billion. Profits were up 51.1% to $184.1 million.
 

Pittsburgh -- Lucas Systems, a provider of voice directed warehouse applications, announced that The Container Store has installed Jennifer VoicePlus for voice picking in the retailer’s Dallas- area, 1.1 million-sq.-ft. distribution center.

GRAPEVINE, Texas — GameStop is postive about 2012, despite ending 2011 with a quarter of declining sales and earnings.

Paul Raines, chief executive officer, stated, “In 2011, GameStop outperformed the video game market through disciplined execution of its core business and strategic initiatives. For 2012, we project operating earnings growth based on the continuation of our transformation, led by our strong pre-owned business, expanding digital offerings and emerging mobile categories.”

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Food Marketing Institute on Thursday named Hannah Walker director of government relations to represent food retailers on Capitol Hill.

FORT WORTH, Texas — RadioShack has made an agreement with Malaysian retail group Berjaya Retail Berhad that will expand RadioShack's global footprint across 10 Southeast Asian countries.

Under the long-term agreement, Berjaya Retail (Cayman) Limited as franchise developer is expected to open at least 1,000 franchise locations across the Association of Southeast Asia Nations within the first 10 years. Its subsidiary in Malaysia, Berjaya RS Sdn. Bhd., expects to open its first RadioShack locations later this year in Kuala Lumpur.

Foothill Ranch, Calif. -- The Wet Seal reported Thursday that net income for the fourth quarter dropped to $1.1 million from $5.3 million a year earlier. Sales in the quarter followed the same downward trend, as net sales fell to $163.2 million from $165.5 million, and same-store sales declined 5.5%.