BANGALORE (Reuters) – Ann Taylor Stores Corp’s (ANN.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) first-quarter sales forecast beat market estimates by a huge margin after a strong fourth quarter as the women’s clothes retailer renamed itself to build on its successful e-commerce and outlet channels.

During the fourth quarter, the company saw a 74 percent rise in the Ann Taylor e-commerce channel and a 77 percent rise in the LOFT online channel. Sales fell 3.2 percent at LOFT retail stores.

BANGALORE, March 11 (Reuters) – Ann Taylor Stores Corp’s
(ANN.N: Quote, Profile, Research) first-quarter sales forecast beat market estimates by a
huge margin after a strong fourth quarter as the women’s clothes
retailer renamed itself to build on its successful e-commerce
and outlet channels.

During the fourth quarter, the company saw a 74 percent rise
in the Ann Taylor e-commerce channel and a 77 percent rise in
the LOFT online channel. Sales fell 3.2 percent at LOFT retail
stores.

BANGALORE (Reuters) – Children’s Place Retail Stores Inc (PLCE.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) managed its merchandise better in the holiday fourth quarter, leading to fewer discounts and improved margins, an indication that the company had finally shrugged off its inventory problems.

Shares of the kids’ clothes retailer rose as much as 13 percent to $49.40 on Wednesday.

BANGALORE (Reuters) – Urban Outfitters Inc’s (URBN.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) quarterly earnings missed market estimates for the first time in two years as discounts and higher shipping costs snip margins, sending its shares down 9 percent.

The company’s bohemian styles have been a steady favorite with shoppers, but analysts have been worried about how it balances sourcing and raw material costs to defend margins.

March 1 (Reuters) – Central European Distribution Corp
forecast a full-year profit well short of Wall Street
estimates, and said it will have to pay a fee to stave off a
breach of debt covenants, sending the Polish vodka maker’s
shares crashing 34 percent.

CEDC said its Polish lenders have waived a breach of
consolidated coverage ratio and net leverage ratio covenants for
the period ending December 31, and has amended the ratios for
the period ending March 31, 2011.

BANGALORE, Feb 28 (Reuters) – Abercrombie & Fitch
postponed a special shareholders’ meeting after the teen apparel
retailer failed to win backing for a plan to move its
incorporation to Ohio.

The company told Reuters it will go back to its shareholders
to garner wider support for its plan.

Feb 22 (Reuters) – Apparel maker VF Corp said it
will raise prices this year to guard margins as costs of raw
materials like cotton continue to go up, and forecast full-year
earnings above Wall Street estimates, sending its shares up 6
percent.
The company, which makes brands like North Face, Vans, Lee
jeans and 7 For All Mankind, said it expects 2011 to see the
highest rate of organic revenue growth since 2007.
It expects to earn $7.00-$7.10 a share in 2011. Analysts were
expecting earnings of $6.79, according to Thomson Reuters
I/B/E/S.
“These price increases will be phased in throughout the year,”
Chief Financial Officer Robert Shearer said on a conference call
with analysts, but added that the increases will not entirely
offset pressure from higher product costs.
Gross margins should be down by less than 1 percentage point
in 2011, the company said.
Shearer added that the company’s overall product costs will be
up roughly 7 percent this year, mainly driven by the increase in
cotton prices, which has driven clothes manufacturers across the
world to up prices and eaten into their margins.
Last month, Hanesbrands Inc announced its plans to
increase prices sharply while Swedish fashion chain Hennes &
Mauritz AB posted a surprise fall in quarterly profit,
hit by higher costs of raw materials like cotton.

For the fourth quarter, Greensboro, North Carolina-based VF
Corp posted a net income Of $54.2 million, compared with $66.9
million. On an adjusted basis, it earned $1.78 a share, while
analysts, on average, were expecting earnings of $1.65 a share,
according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

BANGALORE (Reuters) – Abercrombie & Fitch Co (ANF.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) posted a bigger-than-expected quarterly profit as discounts brought in more traffic and boosted sales, and the teen retailer said it plans to almost double its capital expenditures this year as it ramps up international expansion.

Abercrombie, once a high-flyer among teens and college-going adults, has been in a slump for the past year and has shut underperforming stores in the United States as it looked to international markets to drive growth.

BANGALORE, Feb 16 (Reuters) – Abercrombie & Fitch Co
posted a bigger-than-expected quarterly profit as discounts
brought in more traffic and boosted sales, and the teen retailer
said it plans to almost double its capital expenditures this
year as it ramps up international expansion.

Abercrombie, once a high-flyer among teens and college-going
adults, has been in a slump for the past year and has shut
underperforming stores in the United States as it looked to
international markets to drive growth.

BANGALORE (Reuters) – When Melanie Holtkotter, 29, wants to freshen up her wardrobe, she does so from the comfort of her home in Lippstadt, Germany rather than shopping at downtown stores — a signal of tougher competition ahead for U.S. fashion retailers already established online.

“It’s simple to browse and compare items or even different brands,” said Holtkotter, a former insurance staffer. “I can take time making choices, the goods will be delivered to my house and I can still return them.”