News

COSTA MESA, Calif. — Anna’s Linens has set itself for further expansion with new hires and promotions in its buyer department. The company has recently named Jennifer Knapp, senior buyer of window coverings, and has promoted Maggie Negrete to fashion bedding buyer.

NEW CANAAN, Conn. — Not long after Deloitte released gloomy predictions for consumer spending in 2012, another firm is out with a more sunny forecast. Retail sales will increase by 5.7% in 2012, according to a new report by Customer Growth Partners, a consulting and research firm serving retailers, vendors and institutional investors.

The report, “The Great Consumer Reset/The Great Retail Reset,” finds that falling household and credit-debt levels, along with higher savings rates, are fueling consumer spending. 

New Canaan, Conn. -- Retail sales will increase by 5.7% in 2012, according to a new report by Customer Growth Partners,  a consulting and research firm serving retailers, vendors and institutional investors.

The report, “The Great Consumer Reset/The Great Retail Reset,” finds that falling household and credit-debt levels, along with higher savings rates, are fueling consumer spending. 

Ron Johnson isn’t afraid of making waves. Just as my page-neighbor Jeff Green suggested in his latest column, “A Penney for your Thoughts,” the Apple-CEO-turned-JCP-chief is keenly focused on reinventing a department store dinosaur into a sleek, well-oiled retail machine. And if that means reneging on prior deals, so be it.

By Craig R. Johnson, [email protected]

Atlanta -- Mild weather over much of the country spurred increased retail card spending growth in January, according to First Data Corp.’s SpendTrend, which tracks same-store consumer spending by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT cards and checks at U.S. merchant locations.

Overall year-over-year dollar volume growth was 7.0% in January, while overall transaction growth was 7.2%. Mild winter weather nationwide resulted in lower energy demands, providing consumers with additional income to spend at retailers.

Everett, Wash. -- Zumiez Inc. will move its e-commerce fulfillment operations from its headquarters in Everett, Wash., to Edwardsville, Kansas, in May to accommodate their growing online business and to increase the speed of product deliveries to online customers.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — O'Reilly Automotive delivered strong profits for it fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, but its same-store sales were not as impressive. The company reported that net income for the quarter increased $17 million, or 16%, to $123 million from $106 million for the same period one year ago. Diluted earnings per common share for the fourth quarter increased 27% to 94  cents versus 74 cents for the same period one year ago. While the company did report a comps increase of 3.3% for the quarter, in the prior year, same-store sales jumped 9.2%.

AUSTIN, Texas — While food discounters may be thriving in this down economy, things aren't so bad at the other end of the spectrum. Whole Foods Market reported that sales for its first quarter ended Jan. 15 increased 13% to $3.4 billion, and comparable-store sales increased 8.7%. Identical-store sales, excluding six relocations and two expansions, increased 8.2%, or 17.3% on a two-year stacked basis.The company also posted a whopping 33% increase in net income to $118.3 million. Diluted earnings per share increased 28% to 65 cents. 

PHILADELPHIA — Urban Outfitters' performance in the fourth quarter indicate that while consumers may still enjoy its trendy products, they aren't going to its stores to get them.

The company reported that comparable-store net sales decreased 1% for the quarter. However, direct-to-consumer comparable-net sales increased 14%. Combined combarable-retail-segment net sales increased 2% for the quarter. Total sales for the quarter rose 9% to $731 million.

For the year ended Jan. 31, total net sales increased to $2.5 billion.