Coldwater Creek narrows loss

Coldwater Creek on Wednesday posted a narrower fourth-quarter loss that still missed analysts' expectations.

Sales rose 12% to $318.4 million from the year-ago quarter. Comparable-store sales in its premium stores rose 8.9% in the quarter, versus the last quarter of 2008. . . . more

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Coldwater Creek CEO quits, chairman named new CEO

Sept 14 (Reuters) - Women's apparel retailer Coldwater Creek Inc (CWTR.O) said its Chief Executive Daniel Griesemer has resigned and brought back co-founder and Chairman Dennis Pence as chief executive effective immediately.

Pence served as chief executive of Coldwater Creek from 1984 to 2000 and from 2002 to October 2007, the company said in a statement.. . . more

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Coldwater Creek emphasizes retail store growth over direct marketing

Web sales for Coldwater Creek Inc. dropped in 2008 as the retailer continues to emphasize stores over its direct marketing channel.

Despite its roots as a cataloger, Coldwater Creek continues to emphasize stores over its direct channel. The women’s apparel retailer opened 46 standard stores and five outlet stores in 2008, bringing its total store count to 348 retail stores and 35 outlet stores. In contrast, catalog mailings decreased 33.1% to 85,950 from 128,551 in 2007. . . . more

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CL King downgrades Coldwater Creek to neutral

Nov 4 (Reuters) - At least one brokerage downgraded Coldwater Creek Inc (CWTR.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and two others cut their price target on its stock after the women's-apparel retailer forecast a third-quarter loss and withdrew its fourth-quarter outlook.

"In light of the poor results we do not see a catalyst on the horizon. The improved merchandise and operational execution was offset too strongly by such a weak consumer environment," CL King & Associates analyst Mark Montagna wrote in a note to clients.

He downgraded the stock to "neutral" from "strong buy."

An increasing number of U.S. retailers are feeling the pinch of the ongoing financial crisis and deepening credit crunch, which has soured consumer confidence, keeping more of them away from buying non-essentials.

"We believe it is best to stay on the sidelines until the company posts actual results that prove an earnings recovery has begun," Montagna said.. . . more

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Target, P.F. Chang's ready to open at Annapolis Towne Centre

One of Anne Arundel County’s biggest retail projects will open its doors on Sunday.

Several stores at Annapolis Towne Centre at Parole, including anchor tenant Target, will open Oct. 12. Other stores to open include Coldwater Creek, women’s sportswear firm Lucy activewear and Great Gatherings, an Ohio-based firms that manufactures and sells game room furnishings.

Owings Mills-based Greenberg Gibbons Commercial Corp. is redeveloping the former Parole Plaza Mall to create a $500 million retail, office and residential redevelopment complex. The outdoor mall will include extensive streetscaping to create a Main Street-style town center, or what retailers dub a “lifestyle” center. The redevelopment follows a 240,000-square-foot expansion at neighboring Westfield Annapolis mall. . . . more

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