Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) this week reported that its net retail sales for the four weeks ended August 29, 2009 were $4,856 million, an increase of 0.1 percent from $4,852 million for the four weeks ended August 30, 2008. On this same basis, August comparable-store sales decreased 2.9 percent.

“Sales for the month of August were above expectations,” said Gregg Steinhafel, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Target Corporation. “Guest traffic in August was essentially flat to last year, marking a meaningful improvement from second quarter trends. We’re pleased with these results, which we believe reflect the resilience of both our guests and our strategy in a challenging environment.”

									Sales					Total Sales					Comparable Stores % Change
									(millions)					% Change					This Year				Last Year
August									$	4,856				0.1					(2.9	)			(2.1	)
Year-to-date									$	33,784				(1.0	)				(4.7	)			(0.8	)

Target’s current sales disclosure practice includes a sales recording on the day of the monthly sales release. Consistent with this practice, a new message was recorded earlier today. The next sales recording is expected to be issued on Thursday, October 8, 2009. These recordings may be accessed by calling 612-761-6500.

Target Corporation's retail segment includes large general merchandise and food discount stores and Target.com, a fully integrated on-line business. In addition, the company operates a credit card segment that offers branded proprietary and Visa credit card products. The company currently operates 1,719 Target stores in 49 states.

Target Corporation news releases are available at www.target.com.

Quiksilver, Inc. (NYSE:ZQK) yesterday announced operating results for the third quarter ended July 31, 2009. Consolidated net revenues from continuing operations for the third quarter of fiscal 2009 decreased to $501.4 million, from $564.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2008. Adjusting for changes in foreign currency as compared to the U.S. dollar, this represented a decline of 5% in constant currency. Consolidated pro-forma income from continuing operations for the third quarter of fiscal 2009 was $3.7 million, or $0.03 per share, compared to $33.1 million, or $0.25 per share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2008. The pro-forma income from continuing operations for the three months ended July 31, 2009 excludes severance and facility related restructuring charges of $7.3 million net of tax and an offsetting tax adjustment of comparable amount. Including these items, income from continuing operations was $3.4 million or $0.03 per share. A reconciliation of GAAP results to pro-forma results is included in the accompanying tables. Net revenues and income from continuing operations for all periods exclude the results of our Rossignol wintersports business, which was sold in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 and is reported as discontinued operations.

Net revenues in the Americas segment decreased 6% during the third quarter of fiscal 2009 to $256.8 million from $271.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2008. In constant currency, European segment net revenues decreased 8% compared to the prior year. As reported in the financial statements, European segment net revenues decreased 19% during the third quarter of fiscal 2009 to $189.0 million from $232.0 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2008. In constant currency, Asia/Pacific segment net revenues increased 12% compared to the prior year. As reported in the financial statements, Asia/Pacific segment net revenues decreased 8% to $55.1 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 from $59.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2008. Please refer to the accompanying tables in order to better understand the impact of foreign currency on revenue trends in our Europe and Asia/Pacific segments.

Consolidated inventories decreased 7% to $334.2 million at July 31, 2009 from $358.6 million at July 31, 2008. Consolidated trade accounts receivable decreased 14% to $424.2 million at July 31, 2009 from $491.4 million at July 31, 2008.

Robert B. McKnight, Jr., Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President of Quiksilver, Inc., commented, “The fiscal third quarter was a very important period for our company as we delivered on the financial expectations we set a quarter ago and secured our global refinancing plan. In doing so, we have returned our focus to the continuing development of our core businesses. The retail environment remains very challenging and we will continue to adapt our cost structure to this trend as we go forward.”

Addressing its outlook for continuing operations, the Company stated that based on current trends, fourth quarter revenues are expected to be down in the mid-teens on a percentage basis compared to the same quarter a year ago and that it expects to incur a loss per share on a diluted basis in the mid-single-digit range. The company indicated that longer term visibility into revenues and earnings remains limited due to global economic conditions.

The Company also provided an update on the commitment it had reached to consolidate its European debt obligations, including previously uncommitted lines of credit, into a new committed 4-year facility. The new financing with the Company’s European banking partners remains on track with the time table expressed by Quiksilver at the time the transaction was first announced and is expected to close before the end of September. Quiksilver previously announced that two separate transactions had closed and funded at the end of July. In the first transaction, Rhône, an international private equity firm with offices in New York, London and Paris, funded a 5-year senior secured term loan of approximately $150 million. In the second transaction, Bank of America and GE Capital, as joint lead arrangers, funded a new 3-year $200 million asset-based credit facility for Quiksilver’s Americas business.

With its new funding in place, the Company had approximately $147 million of availability under its credit lines and approximately $117 million of unrestricted cash at the end of the third quarter.

About Quiksilver:

Quiksilver, Inc. (NYSE:ZQK) is the world’s leading outdoor sports lifestyle company, which designs, produces and distributes a diversified mix of branded apparel, footwear, accessories and related products. The Company’s apparel and footwear brands represent a casual lifestyle for young-minded people that connect with its boardriding culture and heritage.

The reputation of Quiksilver’s brands is based on different outdoor sports. The Company’s Quiksilver, Roxy, DC and Hawk brands are synonymous with the heritage and culture of surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding, and its beach and water oriented swimwear brands include Raisins, Radio Fiji and Leilani.

G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. (NasdaqGSM: GIII) yesterday announced operating results for the period ended July 31, 2009.

For the three months ended July 31, 2009, net sales increased by 19.8% to $135.9 million from $113.5 million in last year’s comparable quarter. The Company reported a net loss of $2.8 million, or $0.17 per share, for the three months ended July 31, 2009, compared to a net loss of $3.9 million, or $0.23 per share, in the same period last year. The Company noted that this improved bottom-line performance occurred notwithstanding the seasonal losses associated with the Company’s Wilsons retail outlet business, which were only included for three weeks in the year-ago results.

Morris Goldfarb, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are pleased with the performance of our business during the quarter. We saw strong results from our dress and sportswear businesses. At the same time, we built our order book to expected levels and are positioned well for the upcoming fall season in outerwear, dresses, sportswear and suits.”

Mr. Goldfarb continued, “Our inventory is in good shape and we expect a good second half performance in our wholesale business. Our licensed business, our company-owned brands, and our private label programs are performing to expectations and we believe that our second half will once again demonstrate that we can produce good results even in a challenging environment. We also believe that we have made appropriate changes to the merchandise mix at our Wilsons outlet stores in order to increase our sales and productivity during the important holiday retail season. We believe Wilsons has an opportunity to see considerably improved performance compared to last year.”

Mr. Goldfarb concluded, “We have continued to make strides toward our long-term goal of building G-III into an all season diversified apparel company. Even while we have streamlined our infrastructure, we have at the same time continued to invest in our sportswear, dress and suit businesses to support the growth we are experiencing and believe will continue. We are pleased to remain in a position to drive excellent value to consumers across all tiers of distribution and to deliver value to our shareholders.”

Outlook

For the full fiscal year ending January 31, 2010, the Company expects net sales of approximately $770 million, net income in the range of $16.6 million to $18.4 million, and diluted net income per share between $0.95 and $1.05. The Company is also forecasting EBITDA for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2010 to increase approximately 10% to 18% to a range of approximately $40.2 to $43.2 million. EBITDA should be evaluated in light of the Company’s financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of EBITDA to net income is included in a table accompanying the financial statements in this release.

About G-III Apparel Group, Ltd.

G-III is a leading manufacturer and distributor of outerwear, dresses, sportswear and women’s suits under licensed brands, our own brands and private label brands. G-III has fashion licenses under the Calvin Klein, Sean John, Kenneth Cole, Cole Haan, Guess?, Jones New York, Jessica Simpson, Nine West, Ellen Tracy, Tommy Hilfiger, Enyce, Levi’s and Dockers brands and sports licenses with the National Football League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, Touch by Alyssa Milano and more than 100 U.S. colleges and universities. G-III sells outerwear and handbags under our own Andrew Marc and Marc New York brands and has licensed these brands for women’s footwear, men’s accessories, women’s handbags and men’s cold weather accessories. Our other owned brands include Marvin Richards, G-III, Jessica Howard, Eliza J., Black Rivet, Siena Studio, Tannery West, G-III by Carl Banks and Winlit. G-III works with a diversified group of retailers in developing product lines to be sold under their proprietary private labels. G-III also operates 121 retail stores, of which 118 are outlet stores operated under the Wilsons Leather name.

Macy’s, Inc. (NYSE:M) today reported total sales of $1.543 billion for the four weeks ended Aug. 29, 2009, a decrease of 8.5 percent compared with total sales of $1.686 billion in the four weeks ended Aug. 30, 2008. On a same-store basis, Macy’s, Inc. sales were down 8.1 percent in August.

For the year to date, Macy’s, Inc. sales totaled $11.906 billion, down 9.5 percent from total sales of $13.151 billion in the first 30 weeks of 2008. On a same-store basis, Macy’s, Inc.’s year-to-date sales were down 9.1 percent.

Online sales (macys.com and bloomingdales.com combined) were up 15.1 percent in August 2009 and 13.0 percent for the year to date. Online sales are included in the same-store sales calculation for Macy's, Inc.

Macy’s, Inc., with corporate offices in Cincinnati and New York, is one of the nation's premier retailers, with fiscal 2008 sales of $24.9 billion. The company operates more than 840 department stores in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico under the names of Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s. The company also operates macys.com and bloomingdales.com. Prior to June 1, 2007, Macy’s, Inc. was known as Federated Department Stores, Inc.

Gap Inc. (NYSE:GPS) today announced net sales of $1.12 billion for the four-week period ended August 29, 2009, which represents a 2 percent decrease compared with net sales of $1.14 billion for the four-week period ended August 30, 2008. The company’s comparable store sales for August 2009 were down 3 percent compared with an 8 percent decrease in August 2008.

Comparable store sales by division for August 2009 were as follows:

• Gap North America: negative 7 percent versus negative 5 percent last year
• Banana Republic North America: negative 8 percent versus negative 14 percent last year
• Old Navy North America: positive 4 percent versus negative 9 percent last year
• International: negative 12 percent versus negative 2 percent last year

“During August, customers responded well to our denim collections at Gap and Old Navy,” said Sabrina Simmons, chief financial officer of Gap Inc. “We were especially pleased by the progress at Old Navy and its strong back to school performance, which helped support total company merchandise margins significantly above last year.”

Year-to-date net sales were $7.49 billion for the thirty weeks ended August 29, 2009, a decrease of 7 percent compared with net sales of $8.02 billion for the thirty weeks ended August 30, 2008. The company’s year-to-date comparable store sales decreased 7 percent compared with a 10 percent decrease last year.

For more detailed information, please call 1-800-GAP-NEWS (1-800-427-6397) to listen to Gap Inc.’s monthly sales recording. International callers may call 706-634-4421.

September Sales

The company will report September sales on October 8, 2009.

About Gap Inc.

Gap Inc. is a leading global specialty retailer offering clothing, accessories and personal care products for men, women, children and babies under the Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime and Athleta brand names. Fiscal 2008 sales were $14.5 billion. Gap Inc. operates more than 3,100 stores in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Japan and Ireland. In addition, Gap Inc. is expanding its international presence with franchise agreements in Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. For more information, please visit www.gapinc.com.

Alpha Pro Tech, Ltd. (NYSE Amex: APT), a leading manufacturer of products designed to protect people, products and environments, including disposable protective apparel and building products, today announced that it will be tripling the average output of N-95 respirator masks that it has been producing since May, which will help accommodate Alpha Pro Tech’s current backlog and increase availability for the upcoming flu season/swine flu season.

Al Millar, President of Alpha Pro Tech, commented, “Respirator N-95 mask sales continue to be up significantly in the third quarter and will significantly exceed sales achieved in the second quarter. We expect sales to continue to be much stronger than normal for the foreseeable future amidst concerns regarding the global H1N1 Influenza A (commonly known as “Swine Flu”) pandemic. As a result of this expected demand, we will triple N-95 respirator mask production starting in the beginning of the fourth quarter 2009, which begins October 1, 2009. We will begin to ramp up production to that level in September. We currently have backorders, but this increased capacity will fulfill these backorders. We should then have excess capacity available for those who need masks for the upcoming flu season/swine flu season.”

Mr. Millar continued, “Alpha Pro Tech is committed to allocating the necessary resources to minimize the spread of swine flu. We are increasing our manufacturing efforts to provide healthcare professionals with sufficient quantities of N-95 respirator masks to address the ongoing healthcare crisis, particularly as we are now entering the primary flu season.”

About Alpha Pro Tech, Ltd.

Alpha Pro Tech, Ltd. is the parent company of Alpha Pro Tech, Inc., and Alpha ProTech Engineered Products, Inc. Alpha Pro Tech, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets innovative disposable and limited-use protective apparel products for the industrial, clean room, medical and dental markets. In addition, Alpha ProTech Engineered Products, Inc. manufactures and markets a line of construction weatherization products, including building wrap and roof underlayment. The Company has manufacturing facilities in Salt Lake City, Utah; Nogales, Arizona; Janesville, Wisconsin; Valdosta, Georgia; and a joint venture in India. For more information and copies of all news releases and financials, visit Alpha Pro Tech's Website at http://www.alphaprotech.com.

Oxford Industries, Inc. (NYSE: OXM) is pleased to announce that Scott Sennett, formerly Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at StyleMark, Inc., the world's largest diversified accessories and eyewear company, has joined its Oxford Apparel Group as Executive Vice President

Oxford Industries, Inc. is an international apparel design, sourcing and marketing company featuring a diverse portfolio of owned and licensed brands and a collection of private label apparel businesses.

Dillard's, Inc. (DDS-NYSE) (the "Company") announced last week that the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of 4 cents per share on the Class A and Class B Common Stock of the Company payable November 2, 2009 to shareholders of record as of September 30, 2009.

Liz Claiborne Inc. (NYSE: LIZ) is scheduled to present at the Goldman Sachs 16th Annual Global Retailing Conference on Wednesday, September 9th at 9:30 a.m. eastern time at the New York Marriott Marquis hotel.

The presentation will be simultaneously broadcast on the Internet and can be accessed via the Liz Claiborne web site at http://www.lizclaiborneinc.com. An archived broadcast will be available on this web site through September 30, 2009.

About Liz Claiborne Inc.

Liz Claiborne Inc. designs and markets a global portfolio of retail-based premium brands including Kate Spade, Juicy Couture, Lucky Brand and Mexx. The Company also has a refined group of department store-based brands with strong consumer franchises including the Liz Claiborne and Monet families of brands, Kensie, Kensiegirl, Mac & Jac, and the licensed DKNY(R) Jeans Group. For more information visit www.lizclaiborneinc.com.

WGSN, the world’s leading style and trend analysis service, will kick off its Vegas trend coverage by offering insider trend intelligence through their new WGSN Americas blog- www.wgsn.com/americas. WGSN trend experts will navigate the booths at MAGIC, PROJECT, CAPSULE, and POOL to deliver insight on current and future trends that buyers and retailers should look for. Not only will WGSN editors hand-pick key looks, innovative products, and inspiring brands to help attendees maneuver the cluttered terrain, but they’ll provide the why behind the trends with links to WGSN forecasts.

Trade show attendees can also look forward to WGSN tweets at http://twitter.com/wgsn so they can immediately trace the WGSN footprint throughout the shows and keep up with exciting exhibits and dynamic designs.

“The WGSN Americas trend blog, along with our Twitter feeds, adds a new dimension to our reporting in Vegas, offering readers instant access to the items our experts are picking out on the show floors, together with their analysis of which trends they’re tracking and why,” said Sally Lohan, WGSN West Coast Content Director.

WGSN seminars will complement the real-time trend information on the WGSN Americas blog and Twitter. The exclusive seminar series will be held at the Renaissance Hotel on Tuesday, September 1, 2009. Guiding attendees through youth/junior trends, Fall/Winter 2009/2010 styling directions, Spring/Summer 2010 overviews, and a preview of WGSN signature macro-trend directions for Fall/Winter 2010/2011, Sally Lohan, WGSN’s West Coast Content Director, will empower buyers, retailers, and designers with knowledge to identify products and trends that will have a positive impact on their businesses.

WGSN is the world's leading fashion and style forecaster. Our 36,000 customers across the apparel, style, design and retail industries — from major international brands to individual designers, trust us to provide accurate trend forecasting, insightful trend and market analysis, global fashion expertise, research and strategies on products, brand extensions, market opportunities and branding. Our clients include: Every one of the Fortune 500 ap