Gordmans Stores Q4 Profit Rises

Omaha-based apparel and home décor retailer Gordmans Stores, Inc. reported a 36.1% increase in its fourth-quarter profit, helped by a 9.3% rise in sales growth. For the fourth-quarter, the company reported a profit of $8.4 million or $0.44 per share, up from $6.2 million or $0.38 per share last year. Net sales for the quarter increased 9.3% to $168.38 million from $154.03 million in the same quarter last year.

RTT News

The Home Depot Grows Its Own Black Friday

The Home Depot is getting ready for its own version of Black Friday. For the second year in a row, the DIY heavyweight will roll out regional promotions that include doorbusters, as well as special pricing on lawn and garden, patio furniture, and grills. The company launched the idea last Spring, and this year is expanding it to include 60,000 seasonal associates trained for four different weekend events, beginning this weekend. Participation varies by market and climate. 

Marketing Daily

Walmart Widens its Windy City World

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced two new Chicago stores that the Arkansas-based mega retailer said will put the company well on its way to creating 10,000 jobs in the city by 2015. Walmart's investment in Chicago now includes two Supercenters slated to open within the next two years; two Walmart Markets, scheduled to open this fall and the following spring; and two Walmart Express stores, one to launch this summer and the other next winter. These new stores, combined with the company's existing projects, will create close to 1,000 new jobs and nearly 200 construction jobs.

Progresive Grocer

Wal-Mart to Install Solar in Puerto Rico

Wal-Mart Stores announced the planned deployment of rooftop solar arrays at three Wal-Mart locations, including one here, and at two Sam's Clubs on the island of Puerto Rico. The other Wal-Mart installations are in Manati and Ponce; the Sam's Club installations are in Ponce and Bayamon. The Caguas Wal-Mart houses more than 3,200 solar photovoltaic panels and is expected to generate more than 1 million kilowatt hours of energy annually.

Supermarket News

John Lewis Plans 150 Renewable Energy Centers

Retail giant John Lewis Partnership has pledged to cut its emissions by 15 per cent over the next decade by constructing up to 150 renewable energy centres to help power its stores. Waitrose, the Partnership's food retail arm, is currently constructing a biomass-powered energy centre at East Cowes on the Isle of Wight, which is intended to be the first of up to 150 facilities rolled out across the country in order to provide renewable energy for the Partnership.

Business Green

Hornbach Reports Strong FY Growth

DIY giant Hornbach has reported strong growth for 2010, helped in particular by domestic sales. For the year, sales were up 5.7% to just over €3bn, a record result for the group. The group's Hornbach-Baumarkt unit, which operates 133 DIY megastores in nine countries, saw sales grow by 5.6% to €2.84bn. The group reported positive results in its home market, with sales up 4% to €1.64bn, and its domestic market share rose by 20bps to 8.9%. Internationally, sales were up 7.7% to €1.2bn, as it continued to expand across Europe.

Kam City

Bradford Business Wins Top National Award

Morrisons has been named the UK's best retail employer. The Bradford-based supermarket chain received the industry 'Oscar' for its commitment to training, with every retail employee being offered the opportunity to achieve a nationally-recognised qualification. Morrisons has launched its own academy and aims to train all 40,000 of its 16 to 24-year-old employees to achieve a QCF Level 2 retail skills qualification. 

Telegraph & Argus

Myer Sales, Profit Drop but Shares Rise

Department store operator Myer Holdings says the retail environment remains challenging and it expects a lower net profit for the full financial year. Myer booked a first-half net profit of $106.76 million, up five-fold on the prior corresponding period. Overall costs were lower despite one-off costs associated with the rebuilding of Myer's store in central Melbourne. Inventory was also down, excluding non-comparable inventory held for new stores and the music business. In the first-half, Myer opened two new stores, one at Top Ryde in NSW and another at Robina in Queensland.

Sydney Morning Herald