Marketing

St. Louis -- Build-A-Bear Workshop reported Thursday a profit of $0.9 million for the third quarter, compared with a loss of $1.4 million in the year-ago period.

Sales rose 3.1% to $95.4 million, and same-store sales increased 1.1%.

“We remain optimistic about our business and expect the ongoing implementation of our strategies to enable us to continue our positive performance,” said Maxine Clark, Build-A-Bear Workshop’s chairman and chief executive bear. International revenue surged 14%.

Tampa, Fla. -- Orlando, Fla.-based Crossman & Co. said that it has negotiated a five-year lease at the Shoppes of Citrus Park, in Tampa, Fla.

Great Clips will open a 1,200-sq.-ft. shop at the Shoppes of Citrus Park.
 

New York City -- Brixmor Property Group said Wednesday it has appointed Thomas W. Litzler as senior VP, central region.

Based in Chicago, Litzler will serve as the asset manager for the region, directing leasing, property operations and redevelopment activity for 11.7 million sq. ft. of community and neighborhood shopping centers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin.

New York City -- Multiple reports on Wednesday said that American Apparel’s head of business development Marty Staff has abruptly quit the company.

A report in the New York Post said that Staff had a falling out with the company’s CEO Dov Charney.
 

After two years of being in New York City in order to be closer to the center of the fashion industry in the United States, Walmart is moving its apparel office back to Bentonville, Ark.

Dallas -- Alliance Data Systems Corp. said Thursday that it has signed a new long-term agreement to provide private-label credit card services for Christopher & Banks.

Under terms of the agreement, Alliance Data will provide Christopher & Banks and CJ Banks with private-label credit card services, as well as beefed-up loyalty benefits.

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — OfficeMax's sales were down for the third quarter, but the company managed to deliver higher net income growth during a period of executive transitions and a tough economy.

OfficeMax announced that total sales were $1.8 billion in the third quarter of 2011, a decrease of 2.1% from the third quarter of 2010.  For the third quarter of 2011, OfficeMax reported net income of $21.5 million, or 25 cents per diluted share, compared with $20 million, or 23 cents per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2010.  

Naperville, Ill. -- Brixmor Property Group announced two retailers will join Westridge Court, located in Naperville, Ill.

A 4,466-sq.-ft. Dots recently opened at Westridge Court.  And a 4,000-sq.-ft. lease has been executed with Gymboree Play and Music. 

Brixmor, based in New York City, is the owner of Westridge Court.