Betsey Johnson stores ceasing operations

All Betsey Johnson retail stores are going out of business, including two locations in Hawaii, the company announced Thursday.

The bankrupt retailer has nearly 70 stores and outlets throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. The Hawaii locations are at Ala Moana Center and the Shops at Wai­lea on Maui.

Betsey Johnson, known for her iconic bold color designs, opened her first retail store 30 years ago in New York City and soon expanded internationally.

The stores are selling all Betsey Johnson merchandise at 20 percent to 50 percent off as well as store fixtures such as apparel racks, shelving and lighting.

Gift cards will be honored until June 1. Sales made today or afterward are final.

Air New Zealand adds Hawaii seasonal flight

Air New Zealand plans to add a third weekly Boeing 767-300 to its Auckland-Honolulu route for seasonal service between late October and March. The additional flight will increase the total number of seats on the route by 50 percent.

The airline usually flies three flights a week to Honolulu in July, August, September and October.

In addition, Air New Zealand said it will upgrade its service to a larger Boeing 777-200 aircraft from June 9 to Sept. 1, a 21 percent capacity increase from the same period a year ago. Air New Zealand currently uses a Boeing 767-300.

"Hawaii has long been a popular destination for Kiwis seeking a winning holiday combination of sun, sand and shopping," Air New Zealand General Manager Bruce Parton said. "The additional capacity and more flexible fare structure (that the airline is offering) will make Hawaii an even more affordable and accessible leisure destination."

In the first quarter, visitor arrivals from New Zealand to Hawaii increased 16.3 percent to 3,287 from 2,827 in the year-earlier period.

Air seats out of Auckland grew 3.1 percent to 6,084 from 5,902 during the same period.

Lemonade stand contest seeks entrants

Entries are being accepted through May 31 for Lemonade Alley, an annual business competition that enhances entrepreneurial skills of kids in kindergarten through high school.

Teams making it to the final round of this free contest will compete within their age groups for $1,000 prizes when the lemonade stands open to the public July 8 at Magic Island.

Winning teams also will receive free admission to Camp BizGym, a business literacy program for budding entrepreneurs, set for Aug. 14-19 in Hono­lulu.

Lemonade Alley expanded to seven mainland cities this year. Winning teams from those cities will receive free trips to Hawaii plus admission to Camp BizGym.

Students competing in these contests get a taste of what’s involved in running a small company by writing simple business plans, building lemonade stands, creating lemonade drinks, promoting their products through social media and other methods, then pitching their ideas to panels of judges. The contests culminate when students open their stands and sell as much lemonade as possible.

All proceeds are donated to charities chosen by contest participants.

Entry information and other contest details are available at LemonadeAlley.com.

Nordstrom’s earnings increase 2.7 percent

NEW YORK » Upscale retailer Nordstrom Inc. said its first-quarter net income rose a slim 2.7 percent as it spent more on free shipping and other initiatives that boosted sales but squeezed its profit margin.

The earnings fell short of Wall Street expectations, and the department store chain’s shares fell more than 5 percent in after-hours trading Thursday after the report.

Sales have rebounded since late 2009 for Nordstrom and many other luxury retailers as well-heeled shoppers have gotten more comfortable with splurging again, despite the vagaries of the stock markets.

But Nordstrom and others also face a new challenge in shoppers, armed with smartphones and tablets, who are rethinking customer service. That’s pushing the upscale merchant, long known for its service, to light new paths in the digital era.

The Seattle-based company reported net income of $149 million, or 70 cents a share, for the three months that ended April 28. That compares with $145 million, or 65 cents a share, a year earlier. Analysts were expecting higher earnings of 75 cents per share, according to FactSet.

Nordstrom’s net sales rose to $2.54 billion, just shy of analysts’ average forecast for $2.55 billion.

On the Move

» Hawaiian Airlines has announced Louis Saint-Cyr has been promoted to vice president of customer services. He had been vice president of in-flight services since May 2004. Before Hawaiian Airlines, Saint-Cyr held senior level positions managing various aspects of in-flight services for Air Canada.

» First Hawaiian Bank has announced that Carrie K.S. Oki­naga has been promoted to general counsel and named to the bank’s senior management committee. She was previously the corporation counsel for the City and County of Hono­lulu. Before that she was a partner with the law firm McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon for 12 years.

» The National Federation of Independent Business Young Entrepreneur Foundation has awarded Grant Takara the Hawaii Leadership Council Young Entrepreneur Award of a $1,000 scholarship. Takara is a Kalani High School senior and will be able to use his award at any university, college, community college or vocational/technical institute of his choice.

Ship Ahoy!

Today’s ship arrivals and departures: