News

Minneapolis – Best Buy Co. Inc. swung to a net profit in the first quarter of fiscal 2015 from a net loss in the same period a year earlier, but missed estimates with a drop in sales. The retailer posted net income of $461 million, a big turnaround from a net loss of $81 million.

Nashville, Tenn. – Kirkland’s Inc. reported positive results for the first quarter of fiscal 2014. On a year-over-year basis, net income grew 17% to $2.1 million from $1.8 million.

Net sales increased 6.9% to $108.3 million compared with $101.2 million, and same-store sales grew 5%. The company was able to shake off the effects of bad weather in the early part of the quarter.

Walmart has enhanced its mobile pharmacy app to help customers make better saving decisions and allow quick access to its list of $4 prescriptions.

According to the company, the enhanced app will allow customers to:

Oakville, Canada – The Tim Hortons TimmyMe iOS app now includes support for Passbook. Customers can add their prepaid Tim card to Passbook, which they can then scan to pay in-store or at the drive-thru in participating locations.

The TimmyMe app also offers a store finder and nutritional data.

Kirkland's experienced solid sales momentum in its stores and online during the first quarter of fiscal 2014 despite getting a slow start as a result of adverse weather. Even with a more promotional environment late in the quarter, sales remained strong and resulted in earnings performance at the high end of the company’s guidance.

San Francisco – Williams-Sonoma had a strong first quarter of fiscal 2014, with net income climbing 17% to a better-than-expected $46.16 million from $39.17 million.

Net sales grew 10% to $974.33 million from $887.8 million, also topping estimates.

Total same-store sales grew 10%. Williams-Sonoma credited much of its success during the quarter to market share gains and advantages conferred by its multichannel operations.

Stein Mart has named Sara Meza as director of e-commerce. Although Meza came on board in April — after a 12-year tenure at Belk where she led the original launch of the retailer’s website business — the company made the announcement in conjunction with solid first-quarter results.

Net income for the quarter decreased to $14.1 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, from a net income of $14.7 million, or $0.33 per diluted share in 2013.

Montreal -- Jesta I.S., a leading supplier of enterprise software solutions for retailers, manufacturers, and distributors, announced that Peter Harris Clothes/Label Shopper Stores, an off-price apparel, accessories, and home decor chain is partnering with Jesta I.S. to implement their vision merchandising, vision POS, and vision financials software solutions.