Dillard’s Aims to Sell More House Brands

Little Rock, Ark., Dillard’s Inc. plans to increase profits by selling more house brands and emphasizing the value of its fashion apparel, the department store chain’s president, Alex Dillard, said at its annual meeting on Saturday. The company plans nine new stores for 2005.

With 329 stores in 29 states, mostly in the South and West, Dillard’s is viewed as a logical acquisition target. But Dillard would not address the possibility at the meeting.