News

Issaquah, Wash. -- Costco Corp. reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended May 12 increased a higher-than-expected 19% on increased sales and member fees. The wholesale club operator earned $459 million in the third quarter, up from $386 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue rose 8% to $24.08 billion, just missing Wall Street’s forecast of $24.09 billion. Revenue from membership fees climbed to $531 million from $475 million, and same-store sales rose 5% overall and 6% in the U.S.

By Crosby Renwick, [email protected]

The pundits say retail, as we’ve known it since the ancient Egyptians, is coming to an end. Ouch. That’s big. You have to admit the logic is not bad: When retail is literally everywhere, when we can buy virtually anything off our phones and have it delivered, why go to a store?

TORONTO — Loft will open four new store locations in Ontario, Canada, following the retailer's initial foray into the Great White North late last year at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto.

The retailer also introduced e-commerce into its new Canadian market in March.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Kid Brands announced late today that it has appointed James Christl as SVP and CFO. He replaces Guy Paglinco, who has resigned as CFO "to pursue other opportunities."

Paglinco has agreed to remain with the company full-time through July 5 to ensure a smooth transition, and has reportedly agreed to make himself available to the company for up to six months following his departure, if deemed necessary.

NEW YORK — Nickelodeon has launched a store within a store in Toys"R"Us Times Square. The Nick Shop is 1,000 sq. ft. and offers exclusive New York-branded products, such as kids and adult apparel, accessories, plush toys and home goods featuring Nickelodeon characters.

Merchandise showcasing Dora the Explorer, Bubble Guppies, Team Umizoomi, Winx Club, SpongeBob SquarePants and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is priced from $5.99 to $49.99. The shop also has an assortment of Nickelodeon-branded toys, books and DVDs.

SEATTLE — Amazon has launched Login with Amazon, a new service that will enable the more than 200 million active Amazon customers to securely log in to apps, games and websites once without having to remember multiple passwords.

Login with Amazon allows developers to easily reduce sign-in friction for their customers, leading to higher engagement and order conversion.

PETALUMA, Calif. — Sport Chalet, a full-service specialty sporting goods retailer, will join MarketLive, a provider of e-commerce technology for high-growth merchants, to present a joint case study at the Internet Retailer Conference & Exhibition.

The case study will highlight how Sport Chalet has achieved strong online sales growth by leveraging MarketLive's content management features to create a unique and compelling brand experience for its customers.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Nearly 60 years to the day after Edmund Hillary and Tensing Norgay climbed Mount Everest, 48-year-old Russian Valery Rozov has jumped off its north face at 23,667 ft. to set a world record for the highest B.A.S.E. jump.

NEW YORK — Multichannel retailer Delia’s credited exiting brand Alloy and unseasonably cool weather for the dip in its first quarter results for the period ended May 4. Amid the “disappointing” first quarter results, the company has appointed a new CEO. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Express overcame the spring chill and a difficult retail environment, reporting net sales of $508 million for the first quarter ended May 4, a 3% increase from $496 million in the first quarter of 2012.

Comparable sales were flat following a 4% comparable sales increase in last year's first quarter. This includes e-commerce sales, which increased 48% to $71 million. In last year's first quarter, e-commerce sales grew 28% to $48 million.