News

Hampstead, Md. -- JoS. A. Bank Clothiers said Wednesday that its first-quarter net income increased 12.7% to $17.8 million, compared with $15.8 million in the prior year.

Total sales increased 8.5% to $193.3 million, from $178.1 million. Same-store sales edged up 0.1%.
 

Goodlettsville, Tenn. -- Dollar General Corp. reported Wednesday that profit for the quarter ended April 29 surged 15% to $157 million, compared with $136 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue rose 11% to $3.45 billion from $3.11 billion, beating Wall Street expectations of $3.42 billion. Same-store sales climbed 5.4%.

The discounter plans to open about 625 new stores and to remodel or relocate 550 stores in 2011. Capital expenditures are expected to be in the range of $550 million to $600 million, according to Dollar General.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears announced that it has created a list of perfect Father's Day gifts with the help of its mySears community and Facebook fans. The company polled its consumers and yielded more than 700 responses to determine the ultimate "Gift Guy'd," the company reported.

New York City -- South Carolina legislators gave final approval Wednesday to a deal bringing Amazon.com and its promise of 2,000 jobs to the state, the Associated Press reported.

The House voted 90-14 to approve a compromise brokered last week in the Senate, sending the measure to Gov. Nikki Haley's desk.

CINCINNATI — The day before most retailers report monthly results, Macy’s said Wednesday that same-store sales climbed 7.4% in May and total revenue rose 8.5% to $1.94 billion.

The department store operator also raised its expectations for the second quarter, saying it now expects second quarter same-store revenue to climb about 5%. Its prior forecast called for an approximately 4% increase.

Midwestern department store operator Gordman’s Stores was putting up some big numbers last year, and then in early August it decided to go public. Things are not looking quite as good of late, with first quarter comps weaker than planned and guidance for the remainder of the year lowered.

NEW YORK — Barneys New York has announced that its e-commerce website, Barneys.com (www.Barneys.com), has introduced international shipping to 90 countries including Canada, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Australia, and China.

According to Barneys, international customers will be able to make payments on Barneys.com in their preferred currency with cost-effective international shipping and handling services.  

New York City -- Seattle’s Best Coffee LLC, a division of Starbucks Corp., has asked a bankruptcy judge to reject Border Group’s request to end the companies’ licensing agreement.

Borders is not entitled to cancel the agreement and continue to use Seattle’s Best’s trademarks and products, the coffee company said today in a court filing. Seattle’s Best also disputed Borders’s claim that terms of the agreement are excessive.