Neiman Marcus Group

Barnes & Noble Inc. reported a wider-than-expected loss for its fiscal third quarter as expenses at its fledgling Internet unit offset higher sales at its chain of large bookstores. The largest U.S. bookseller lost $4.59 million, or 7 cents a share, compared with net income of $65,000, or break-even on a per-share basis, a year ago. Analysts were expecting, on average, a loss of 3 cents. Total revenue rose 9.6% to $674.1 million.

In its latest stint of troubled times, MGM is banking on another kind of star currency to pump up its image, add a little green to its parched coffers and exploit its still-renowned logo: The catalog business. And it's not the catalog the studio already exploited--its entire back library of classic films that Ted Turner bought in the mid-'80s. This time the struggling studio has jumped into the mail order business, in alliance with the pricey Neiman Marcus catalog.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. unveiled a consumer products co-venture with Neiman Marcus Direct on Monday, with a branded catalog designed to cash in on the studio's still-glamorous image with global consumers. The retailer will launch an "MGM Star" catalog in August, featuring upscale clothing and home furnishings aimed primarily at baby boomers.

There's a startled look on the blue dog's face on the cover of Neiman Marcus' virgin venture into newsstand publishing. Is the little fellow, by Louisiana artist George Rodrigue, thinking: "Oh, boy, what will they think of next?" Neiman Marcus is hoping consumers, retailers, image-conscious designers and Madison Avenue will all learn a new phrase: The Book.

Several thousand past and present employees at Neiman Marcus' five department stores in California could be in line for reimbursements in connection with a sales commission policy that violated state law. The reimbursements, which could total as much as $1.5 million, stem from a since-abandoned policy that required salespeople to absorb commission costs associated with merchandise returned without sales slips.

Several thousand past and present employees at Neiman Marcus' five department stores in California could be in line for reimbursements in connection with a sales commission policy that violated state law. The reimbursements, which could total as much as $1.5 million, stem from a since-abandoned policy that required salespeople to absorb commission costs associated with merchandise returned without sales slips.

James Bond and Santa Claus don't generally work as a team, but in this year's Neiman-Marcus Christmas catalogue the world's foremost super-suave secret agent has become something of a Yuletide phenomenon. Bond has a new face in MGM's "GoldenEye," which opens Friday--that of actor Pierce Brosnan, who takes over the license to kill last held by Timothy Dalton. But Bond is also driving a new car in the film--a BMW Z3 roadster, which replaces 007's traditional Aston Martin.

Stanley Marcus is not angry. Rather, the chairman emeritus of Neiman Marcus explains in the gentle tone of a disappointed grandfather why he's writing a letter to the maker of his $195 dress shirt. To Marcus' discerning eye, the custom-made cotton British shirt--an apparently impeccable lavender Prince of Wales plaid, subtly striped in yellow, blue and green--arrived flawed. It had too many loose threads, including some not trimmed from the machine-made buttonholes.

Wet Seal, a young women's apparel store, said Monday that it has agreed to purchase the Contempo Casuals women's clothing chain for $1 million in stock, nearly tripling the number of stores it owns nationwide. The company is buying Contempo's chain of 239 women's apparel stores from Neiman Marcus Group in Chestnut Hill, Mass., which had closed 50 Contempo sites last year because of poor sales. The transaction is expected to be completed at the end of May.