Finance & Capital Management

Menomonee Falls, Wis. -- A Friday report in Advertising Age said that Kohl’s Corp. has added $30 million to its fourth quarter marketing spend in order to pad its efforts to garner holiday shopping dollars.

In 2010, the retailer spent $113 million on measured media in the fourth quarter, according to the report, and will spend about $143 million this year. Annually, Kohl’s spends $340 million.

Northbrook, Ill. -- Crate and Barrel announced Friday that its president and CEO Barbara Turf, who is retiring spring 2012, will be succeeded by current company COO Sascha Bopp, who becomes CEO effective April 2012.

Current CB2 director Marta Calle will become president, in charge of merchandising and marketing, and will report to Bopp.

Owings Mills, Md. -- Chicago-based General Growth Properties and Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Kimco Realty Corp. said Thursday that the two companies have formed a joint venture partnership to redevelop Owings Mills Mall, Md.

The new JV gives each company 50% interest in the 25-year-old, 1 million-sq.-ft. mall; GGP previously owned 100%.

"We're exploring a number of options to revive Owings Mills Mall and provide the shoppers of northwest Baltimore County a more viable center that meets their needs,” said Shobi Khan, COO, GGP.

Portland, Maine -- Brixmor Property Group announced a 11,002-sq.-ft. Dollar Tree recently opened at Pine Tree Shopping Center, in Portland, Maine.

Brixmor, based in New York City, is the owner of Pine Tree Shopping Center.
 

Minneapolis -- Christopher & Banks Corp. announced Friday that it will close about 100 underperforming stores over the next three months, as part of a restructuring plan that also includes format consolidations and workforce reductions.

The women’s apparel retailer said it plans to complete most of the store closings by the end of January 2012, and will accelerate plans to convert or consolidate a number of its existing Christopher & Banks and CJ Banks stores into dual-format stores.

Little Rock, Ark. -- Dillard’s Inc. reported Friday that profit for the quarter ended Oct. 29 soared a record 85% to $26.6 million, compared with $14.4 million in the year-ago period. Strong comps and contained expenses propelled the strong performance.

Revenue rose to $1.38 billion, from $1.34 billion, beating Wall Street’s expected $1.36 billion in sales. Same-store sales increased 5%.

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Body Central Corp., which operates under the Body Central and Body Shop banners, reported Friday that net income for the third quarter more than doubled to $2.8 million, from $1.3 million a year earlier.

Total revenue rose 18% to $67.1 million, compared with $56.9 million a year ago. Results were boosted by a 21.2% increase in store sales. Same-store sales rose 8.2%.

The company opened five new stores during the third quarter and is on track to open 33 new stores in 2011.
 

CITY OF COMMERCE, Calif. — A strong earnings and sales performance during its fiscal second quarter gave 99 Cents Only Stores the confidence to raise its full year guidance and become more aggressive with store growth. The company reported that total retail sales increased 9% to $352.2 million and same-store sales increased 6.7% for the second quarter. Consolidated net income increased by $2.2 million to $15.1 million or 21 cents per diluted share, versus $12.9 million in the prior year, or 18 cents per diluted share

ROANOKE, Va. — Advance Auto Parts is raising its full year EPS outlook following an impressive 37% increase in third quarter earnings. According to Mike Norona, EVP and CFO, the company now expects its annual 2011 EPS outlook to be $4.90 to $4.95. For the third quarter, the cmpany reported that earnings per diluted share were $1.41 compared with $1.03 for the same period last year.

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. — Jennifer Lopez' and Marc Anthony's split had little impact on sales of their respective brands at Kohl's, which reported its third-quarter results Thursday. According to Kevin Mansell, Kohl’s chairman, president and CEO, "the launch of [the] Jennifer Lopez and Mark Anthony brands during the quarter met [the company's] aggressive sales plans."