Strategy

New York  -- Jones Group Inc. reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit, helped by a rise in sales of shoes and jeans to U.S. department stores, which helped make up for a big  drop in business at its own stores.
  
Third-quarter revenue slipped 0.7% to $1.035 billion as sales at the company's U.S. stores were down 6.7%.
   

MAHWAH, N.J. — The Fred Meyer Jewelers division of Kroger Co. has selected TD Retail Card Services to take over the private label credit card program for its Fred Meyer Jewelers and Littman Jewelers stores.

Under the agreement, the  business unit of TD will direct all facets of the program for the company's 344 fine jewelry stores in 32 states. 
 

Do you know a retailer under the age of 40 who is making an impact in his or her company? Chain Store Age is accepting nominations for its Rising Stars: 20 under 40 awards, which will recognize retailers who are making their marks in their companies and in the retail industry.

Redwood Shores, Calif. -- As part of a larger initiative to upgrade the customer experience and localize offerings in its 640 stores nationwide. The Finish Line will roll out new Oracle Retail merchandising, planning, stores and CRM solutions. The athletic-goods retailer is leveraging Oracle’s cloud computing services in the process.

The Finish Line will use the integrated retail systems to tailor offerings to customer and regional preferences.  

New York -- Multiple reports on Monday suggested that private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, which owns the struggling Albertsons LLC, may be putting together a deal to buy all or part of the grocery chain.

Cerberus is said to be seeking $4 billion to $5 billion in debt financing from banks to back a bid and is looking at investing $800 to $900 in equity in its takeover quest, a person familiar with the matter is reported to have said. That same source cautioned that the figures could change.

New York -- Coach Inc. reported Tuesday that profit for the quarter ended Sept. 29 rose 3% to $221.4 million, compared with $215 million for the same period last year and beating Wall Street expectations.

Sales surged 11% to $1.16 billion, in line with forecasts, and same-store sales in North America rose 11%, bolstering the luxury retailer’s results for the quarter. In China, same-store sales also rose by double-digits.

Miami Beach, Fla.-based Savitar Realty Advisors has nearly completed its transformation of the legendary Lincoln Theatre in the heart of South Beach from a historic movie theater and symphony hall into a 35,000-sq.-ft. mixed-use building located on the pedestrian promenade known as the Lincoln Road Mall.

The modern retail establishment scheduled to open in November will house H&M’s 30,000-sq.-ft. flagship store as well as a number of other smaller tenants including Swatch, Sabon, 4D Gelato and 100 Montaditos, a Spanish tapas and sandwich style restaurant.

General Growth Properties’ Fashion Place shopping center in Murray, Utah, celebrated “Fashion Place Day” on Oct. 15 to commemorate the mall’s 40-year history.

A 15-ft. Mall of Memories wall marked the occasion, and was accompanied by a mayoral declaration and a week of special offers, giveaways, retro fashion shows and a mall-wide birthday party honoring 40 kids affected by cancer.

“We think Fashion Place looks fabulous for being 40,” said Natalie Watson, Fashion Place senior marketing manager.

Minneapolis -- Target Corp. said Tuesday it will sell its $5.9 billion credit card portfolio to TD Bank Group.

The business will be sold for an amount equal to the gross value of the outstanding receivables at the time of closing, said Target; the portfolio currently has a gross value of about $5.9 billion.

TD Bank also agreed to a seven-year deal to underwrite, fund and own the retailer’s future credit card and Visa receivables in the U.S.

Las Vegas -- Tatyana Designs opened its 10th Bettie Page store, on Newbury Street in Boston.

“We are confident that our new Boston location will track the success of our other nine company-owned outlets all located in prime 'street' or up-scale mall locations. We are looking at additional East Coast locations as we aggressively pursue our growth strategy," said Tatyana Designs co-CEO Jan Glaser.