After two tough years of losses and management reshuffling, Sandpoint’s Coldwater Creek can point to progress as it pushes its way back to profitability. Some of the changes have been forced upon Coldwater Creek because of internal factors, including a surplus of retail stores and a history of primarily selling to women older than 55. But industrywide factors also are forcing Coldwater Creek and competitors, such as Chico’s FAS and Talbots, to make adjustments as the economy has forced retailers to rethink operations. That’s led to industry-wide efforts to shrink the size of retail stores, reductions in inventories, and shortened times between production and delivery of new items to stores. “I think we’re encouraged by the progress we’re making,” said Lyn Walther, the publicly traded company’s director of investor relations and communications/SR. More here. (Jesse Tinsley SR photo: Store manager Violet Rodriguez folds a top at the Coldwater Creek store in Sandpoint on Thursday)

Question: Do you shop Coldwater Creek?