MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. Reports Results for its Fiscal 2011 Second Quarter

| MCM staff

For the fiscal 2011 second quarter, net sales rose 22.2% to $483.4 million, compared with $395.5 million in the prior year period. Operating income increased 61.6% in the fiscal 2011 second quarter to $80.6 million, or 16.7% of net sales, from $49.9 million, or 12.6% of net sales, in the second quarter of fiscal 2010. For the second quarter of fiscal 2011, the Company reported net income of $49.7 million, an increase of 62.1% over net income of $30.6 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2010. Diluted earnings per share in the fiscal 2011 second quarter were $0.78 (based on 63.3 million diluted shares outstanding), compared to $0.48 (based on 63.0 million diluted shares outstanding) in the same period a year ago, an increase of 62.5%.

High Gas Prices May Boost Ecommerce Growth

| Tim Parry

The sharp rise in gas prices may put a hold on overall economic growth, and that’s bad news for spending on entertainment, home improvement and travel, according to Discover Financial Service’s U.S. Spending Monitor. But based on historical results, ecommerce should see a lift.

Dreams, Inc. and Sportswear, Inc. Join Forces to Launch Customized Merchandising Solutions

| MCM staff

PLANTATION, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Dreams, Inc. (NYSE Amex:DRJ), a technology driven, vertically integrated, multi-channel retailer focused on the sports licensed products industry, announced that it has partnered with Sportswear, Inc., an e-commerce solutions provider to consumer brands, retailers and media properties. The alliance will provide customized high school merchandise via the FansEdge.com website. The new partnership will incorporate the Sportswear, Inc. dynamic, customization technology into the FansEdge.com shopping experience. FansEdge.com customers will have access to t-shirts, sweatshirts, caps and skins featuring their favorite elementary, middle school and high school. Each item can be customized with hundreds of design and activity options. Shoppers can also customize each item with graduation year, player number and their name.