(New York, NY) Gerber Childrenswear, Inc. today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2001.

(Lexington, MA) The Stride Rite Corporation today reported financial results for the first quarter of its 2002 fiscal year.

(New York, NY) The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index, after a small dip in February, surged in March. The Index climbed to 110.2 (1985=100), up from 95.0 in February. Both key barometers increased. The Present Situation Index rose from 96.4 to 111.5. The Expectations Index increased from 94.0 to 109.3.

(Cincinnati, OH) Federated Department Stores, Inc. announced today a title change and expanded responsibility for Terry J. Lundgren. Lundgren, 50, who has served as president and chief merchandising officer of the company since May 1997, will assume the additional title of chief operating officer, effective April 15.

(Huntington Beach, CA) Quiksilver is pleased to announce the openings of two new concept shops in the Woodfield Shopping Center in Schaumburg, Illinois.

(Dayton, OH) The Elder-Beerman Stores Corp. net income for the fourth quarter ended February 2, 2002, was $9.7 million versus $8.5 million in the same period in 2000. Net income per diluted share for fourth quarter 2001 was $0.84, compared to $0.75 in the fourth quarter of 2000, an increase of 12 percent per share.

(Knoxville, TN) Goody's Family Clothing, Inc. today reported a net loss for the fourth quarter ended February 2, 2002 (13 weeks), of $7,674,000, or ($0.24) per share, compared with net earnings of $11,135,000, or $0.34 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter ended February 3, 2001 (14 weeks). Total sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2001 (13 weeks) were $363.1 million compared with $400.3 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2000 (14 weeks). Comparable store sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2001 decreased 8.7% compared with the fourth quarter of fiscal 2000 (on a comparable 13-week basis).

(Burbank, CA) Consumer Products industry veteran Bruce Morrison has been promoted to vice president, retail marketing, for Disney Consumer Products (DCP), it was announced by Andy Mooney, president, Disney Consumer Products Worldwide. Morrison previously held the position of managing director, licensing retail and marketing, DCP Canada.

(Anaheim, CA) Following the successful debut of the West Coast's first-ever surf/skate/street back-to-school (BTS) trade show, March 11-12 at the Anaheim Convention Center, Surf Expo announced plans to return to the venerable Southern California venue on March 6-7, 2003.

(Washington) The Commerce Department's Census Bureau today released a snapshot of e-commerce activity for key sectors of the U.S. economy for 2000, showing U.S. manufacturing leading all industry sectors with $777 billion in e-commerce shipments. The report also revises previously-released data for 1999.

(Burlington, NJ) Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation announced today that net sales for the third quarter ended March 2, 2002 were $779.8 million compared with $722.7 million for the comparative period ended March 3, 2001, a 7.9% increase.

(York, PA) The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. today reported results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2001 ended February 2, 2002.

(Birmingham, AL) Retailer Saks Incorporated today announced final results for the fourth quarter and year ended February 2, 2002. Final results are consistent with preliminary results reported by the Company on February 21, 2002.

(Fresno, CA) Gottschalks Inc. today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended February 2, 2002.

(Toronto) Hudson's Bay Company announced that sales and revenue in the fourth quarter ended January 31, 2002 grew 3.4% to $2.468- billion from $2.386 billion in the previous year.

(Jackson, MI) Jacobson Stores Inc. today announced it has hired Financo, Inc., a New York-based investment banking firm, to assist the company in identifying and evaluating restructuring alternatives during the Company's Chapter 11 reorganization.

(Newark, CA) Ross Stores, Inc. today reported earnings per share for the 13 weeks ended February 2, 2002 of $.62, compared to $.56 for the 14 weeks ended February 3, 2001. Net earnings for the 13 weeks ended February 2, 2002 totaled $50.0 million, compared to net earnings for the 14 weeks ended February 3, 2001 of $45.2 million. Sales for the fourth quarter of 2001 increased 9% to $848 million with comparable store sales up 8% over the prior year.

(Troy, MI) Kmart Corporation today announced that it intends to close 284 under-performing stores as part of its initial Chapter 11 financial objectives review. The stores to be closed include 271 Kmart discount stores and 12 Kmart Supercenter retail outlets in 40 states, and 1 Kmart store in Puerto Rico.

(Columbus, OH) Six months after 9/11, 44.4% of consumers say they have changed and become more practical and realistic when making a purchase and 52.2% of them say this change is long-term. That's according to the March Consumer Intentions and Actions survey of 7,000 consumers by BIGresearch. The survey was conducted March 1-7.

(Green Bay, WI; March 14 2002; PRNewswire-First Call) ShopKo Stores, Inc. today announced sales and earnings for the fourth quarter (13 week period) and fiscal year 2001 (52-week period), ended February 2, 2002.

(Jacksonville, FL) Stein Mart, Inc. today announced financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended February 2, 2002. Stein Mart's 2001 fiscal year represents a change to a 52-53 week year ending the Saturday closest to January 31; in prior years, the Company's fiscal year ended on the Saturday closest to December 31.  

(Dodgeville, WI) Lands' End, Inc., the direct merchant of classically styled apparel and home furnishings, today reported record earnings for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended February 1, 2002.

(Burlingame, CA) The Gymboree Corporation today reported net income of $10.5 million or $0.35 per share for the fourth fiscal quarter ended February 2, 2002, compared to a net loss of $(1.2) million or $(0.04) per share for the fourth fiscal quarter ended February 3, 2001. The prior year loss included a $3.1 after-tax charge related to Zutopia, a division sold in March of 2001. For the 2001 fiscal year, Gymboree® had net income of $4.6 million or $0.16 per share, compared to a net loss of $(36.9) million or $(1.38) per share for the 2000 fiscal year.

(Floral Park, NY) The following retailers posted sales results for the month of February 2002. The table below compares these results to last year's numbers for each company.  

(Hingham, MA) The Talbots, Inc. today announced operating results for the thirteen-week and fifty-two week periods ended February 2, 2002, compared to the fourteen-week and fifty-three week periods ended February 3, 2001.

(New York) Weatherproof Garment Company has signed Al Roker to appear in a series of print advertisements, which will appear in major newspapers, magazines, and in select outdoor advertising beginning this month. The campaign marks Weatherproof's first foray into celebrity-endorsed advertising.

(Huntington Beach, CA) Quiksilver, Inc., today announced operating results for the first quarter ended January 31, 2002.

(Florence, Italy) The 54th edition of Pitti Immagine Bimbo - the international fair showcasing children's clothing produced by Pitti Immagine at the Fortezza da Basso in Florence - recorded a 3.8% increase in foreign buyer attendance over the January 2001 edition. The number of Italian buyers remained essentially stable (-1.4%) for a total turnout of 8,734 buyers versus 8,722 last year. There were 2,673 buyers from more than eighty countries around the world.

(Paramus, NJ) Toys "R" Us, Inc. reported today the results for its fourth quarter and 2001 fiscal year. Total sales were $4.8 billion for both the thirteen-week period ended February 2, 2002 and the fourteen-week period ended February 3, 2001. Total sales were $11.0 billion for both 52 week fiscal 2001 and 53 week fiscal 2000, after excluding sales of Toys "R" Us - Japan which has been accounted for on the "equity method" since its initial public offering on April 24, 2000.

(Little Rock, AR) Dillard's, Inc. today announced record fourth quarter net earnings per share of $1.21 for the 13 weeks ended February 2, 2002. Net income for the 13-week period was $102 million ($1.21 fully diluted earnings per common share) compared to $66 million ($.78 per fully diluted share) for the 14 weeks ended February 3, 2001.

(Menomonee Falls, WI) Kohl's Corporation reported record sales and earnings for the fourth quarter and year ended February 2, 2002.

(Minneapolis, MN) Target Corporation today reported earnings per share for the fourth quarter ended Feb. 2, 2002 of 73 cents, compared with 61 cents in the fourth quarter 2000, before a 1 cent extraordinary charge in the current quarter for debt repurchase. On the same basis, fourth-quarter net earnings increased 20.1 percent to $663 million, compared with $552 million in 2000. All earnings per share figures refer to diluted earnings per share.

(Jackson, MI) Jacobson Stores Inc. has received final approval from the bankruptcy court overseeing its Chapter 11 reorganization for a one-year secured debtor-in-possession (``DIP'') revolving credit facility of up to $100 million.

(Secaucus, NJ) The Children's Place Retail Stores, Inc. today reported record sales and earnings for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2001 ended February 2, 2002.

(Dallas) The Neiman Marcus Group, Inc. today reported diluted earnings per share of $0.51 for the second quarter of fiscal 2002 compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.84 for the second quarter of fiscal 2001.