International Business

New York -- Jones New York stores won’t be shutting out the lights up north.

Canadian menswear retailer Grafton Fraser Inc. has acquired Jones New York’s 35 stores in Canada for an undisclosed amount. The Toronto-based company said it is planning "significant growth" in the number of Jones stores going forward.

Framingham, Mass. – The TJX Cos. Inc. apparently has a taste for vegemite.

TJX is purchasing Trade Secret, an off-price retailer that operates 35 stores in Australia, from Gazal Corp. Ltd. for $58.45 million. The acquisition of Trade Secret provides TJX an opportunistic entry into Australia, where it currently operates one of its 13 buying offices.

Plano, Texas – Reductions in labor hours and store expenses, as well as a sourcing and distribution initiative, helped boost profit at Rent-A-Center Inc. in the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Net income rose 31% to $23.15 million, from $17.68 million the same quarter a year earlier.

Consolidated revenue also performed well, growing 6% to $815.34 million from $768.43 million. Consolidated same-store sales increased 7.5%, aided by especially strong performance in Mexico stores.

Las Vegas -- Those familiar blue composite panels are going up in Las Vegas.

Ikea announced that steel framing has progressed far enough that installation of the iconic blue panels has begun on its future Las Vegas store. Installing the blue panels is a construction milestone that ensures the 351,000-sq.-ft. store will open summer 2016, and it reflects the unique architectural design for which Ikea stores are known worldwide.

New York – Worthy.com, an online marketplace for used luxury goods, has named Gil Gadot as executive VP and COO.

Gadot joins Worthy with more than 20 years of experience in finance and technology.

Boston - Conrad Lauten has joined Gordon Brothers-AccuVal, the valuation division of Gordon Brothers Group, as director, business development. Lauten will oversee the group serving Alabama; Florida; Georgia; Kentucky; Mississippi; North Carolina; South Carolina; Tennessee and Virginia.

Seattle - Starbucks Corp. is looking to increase its corporate ownership stake. The retailer has authorized the repurchase of an additional 50 million shares of the company's common stock under its ongoing share repurchase program.

This authorization has no expiration date and is in addition to the 11 million shares that remained available for repurchase as of June 28, 2015 under an existing authorization.

Toronto – Lowe’s Canada is in growth mode. In addition to completing the acquisition of 12 former Target sites, the company also plans to open two more locations in Ontario, which will bring its total store count to 54 from 40.