Data & Analytics

IRVING, Texas  — Michaels Stores and procurement management firm announced on Friday a five-year agreement under which LogicSource will provide print procurement and related services to Michaels.

More than $250 million of print and promotional spend will be covered over the life of the contract.

Prior to beginning the relationship, LogicSource conducted a strategic analysis of Michaels’s print production ecosystem, from creative through to distribution, and developed a program designed for cost savings and operational enhancements.

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Friday by the Commerce Department said that retail sales in the U.S. rose 0.5% in July, the most in four months and demonstrating that consumers may be holding their own in a tumultuous economy.

The 0.5% increase matched the Bloomberg News median forecast followed a 0.3% gain in June that was larger than estimated. Excluding auto sales, purchases rose more than projected.

Walmart is due to report second quarter results on Tuesday, and the same-store sales and traffic trends at the company’s U.S. stores division will dominate the discussion.

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — OfficeMax announced that it has appointed Mike MacDonald as EVP and president of its global contract organization and Steve Mongeau as SVP sales and growth initiatives, effective Aug. 15.   

Seattle -- Nordstrom reported Thursday that net income for its second quarter rose 20% to $175 million, compared with $146 million in the year earlier period.

Revenue surged 12.4% to $2.72 billion, benefited by strong promotions and matching Wall Street estimates. Same-store sales rose a solid 7.3%. The department store retailer has raised its profit outlook for the full year.

Its outlet concept Nordstrom Rack saw net sales increase 23.4% to $92 million, and same-store sales rose 4.8%.

PLANO, Texas — While such higher-end apparel retailers as Nordstrom and Dillard's boasted impressive quarterly earnings and sales, those that cater to the middle class didn't deliver quite as strongly. Case in point, JCPenney, which reported net income of $14 million, or 7 cents per share, for the second quarter ended July 30. Net income for the same period last year was $14 million, or 6 cents per share.

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Body Central Corp., operator of the Body Central and Body Shop retail chains, reported Friday that net income for the second quarter was $5.3 million, compared with $2.3 million in the year-ago period.

Net revenues increased 22.1% to $74.7 million, compared with $61.2 million for second quarter 2010. Same-store sales increased 14.7%.
 

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Shortly after Nordstrom reported a 20% quarterly earnings gain, fellow luxury retailer Dillard's posted net income of $17.6 million, or 32 cents per share, compared with $6.8 million, or 10 cents per share, for the same period last year.

Same-store sales for the second quarter were up 6%. Net sales for the quarter were $1.44 billion compared with $1.4 billion last year.