Gretchen Koback Pursel is the new chief people officer at the company formerly known as Saks Global.
Q3 comps up 6 percent for Saks’ new parent co.
Hudson’s Bay Company, the Canadian retailer that acquired Saks Inc., reported a single-digit increase in both same-store and total sales in the third quarter.
New York--Hudson’s Bay Company, the Canadian retailer that acquired Saks Inc., reported a single-digit increase in both same-store and total sales in the third quarter.
The Toronto-based company reported Wednesday that same-store sales were up 6 percent year-over-year (4 percent on a constant currency basis) in the quarter ended Nov. 2.
This includes a 6 percent increase in comp sales at Hudson’s Bay stores in Canada and a 2 percent increase (on a U.S. dollar basis) at U.S. chain Lord & Taylor, its first quarterly comp increase since the third quarter of last year.
Total sales increased 6 percent year-over-year, rising from $930.4 million to $984.1 million. E-commerce sales grew 58 percent to $48.9 million.
During the quarter, Hudson’s Bay Company opened a Lord & Taylor store in Boca Raton, Fla. and five new Topshop/Topman stores across Canada while renovating six more in North America.
The company completed its $2.9 billion acquisition of Saks Inc. on Nov. 4, two days into the fiscal fourth quarter. The retailers announced their merger in July. In September, Saks announced that Chairman and CEO Steve Sadove and President Ronald Frasch would be leaving the company following the merger.
Richard Baker, Hudson’s Bay Company governor and CEO, said while they would have preferred stronger year-to-date results, investment in store productivity and the omni-channel platform have produced “clear and promising” results. He said the addition of Saks will allow the company to leverage these investments over a larger platform.
He said as 2014 approaches, Hudson’s Bay Company is focused on the integration of Saks, which includes Saks Fifth Avenue and Off Fifth stores and Saks.com. With the addition of these operations, Hudson’s Bay Company operates a total of 320 stores in the United States and Canada and three e-commerce sites.
“This is a transformational period in HBC’s history and the addition of one of the world’s most recognized luxury retailers provides us with the ability to offer our customers an impressive range of shopping experiences,” Baker said.
The Latest

Bromberg is remembered as a Southern gentleman who always wore a suit and tie and treated others with kindness.

With high durability and a wide range of colors to choose from, sapphires may be the ultimate birthstone, Gizzi claims.

Submit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.

Laughter is often considered a distraction in the workplace, but it has benefits for both staff and management, Peter Smith writes.


The California jeweler is renovating its store in Fresno, with plans to show off the new space in December.

A lifelong practitioner of Pilates, Gabrielle looked to the springs’ tension and suspension when creating this ring, our Piece of the Week.

Retailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.

The deadline to apply is Nov. 13.

The auction house has promoted Remi Guillemin, formerly its head of watches for the Americas and EMEA, to the role.

Zaven Ghanimian discussed the value of human craftsmanship and where the implementation of artificial intelligence does work.

Jewelers of America also revealed the recipients of the Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship and its own scholarship programs.

The British actor, known for his roles in “Twilight” and “The Odyssey,” will star in a campaign for the Master Control Chronometre.

The “Confetti Disco,” “Champagne Cheers,” “Tuxedo,” and “Classic Punk” jewelry collections each capture a distinct spirit of celebration.

Nelson Holdo of Newport Beach pleaded guilty to multiple counts of felony grand theft and writing bad checks and was sentenced Monday.

Cat ladies of the jewelry world, unite. Sandy Lerner’s “significant” collection of cat jewelry and other objects is going up for auction.

Arnaud Michon, the former Omega USA President, will now lead Messika’s Americas region during its international development.

The branding references the back-to-back jewelry shows that new parent company Forge will host in Miami's Coconut Grove this November.

The stainless steel Patek Philippe “Calatrava” watch from the 1930s sold for nearly $80,000 at a recent Hansons Cornwall auction.

Engagement rings are important but don’t ignore the customers who are buying jewelry “just because,” Emmanuel Raheb writes.

Former Pomellato CEO Sabina Belli has been named president of Kering Italia amid a shakeup of Kering's new Jewelry division.

The veteran luxury packaging executive was appointed to help the company grow its North American business.

Once the property of an Egyptian queen, the necklace was part of a larger exhibition of VCA jewelry at the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK).

The labs’ separate investigations each determined that the East African country is producing copper-bearing tourmaline.

“Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective” at the Oshkosh Public Museum will feature works by Fabergé, Lalique, and Louis Comfort Tiffany.

The “Worn Well” collection is Catbird's take on classic men's jewelry.

This Buddha Mama butterfly is our Piece of the Week honoring the legend, who embraced the beautiful insect as her symbol.























