Strategy

New York City -- Coach reported Tuesday that net income for the quarter ended Jan. 1 rose a better-than-expected 26% to $303.4 million on strong sales, compared with $240.1 million in the year-ago period.

The company credited a rebound in U.S. luxury spending, as well as soaring holiday sales in China for the strong performance.

Sales leaped 18.7% to $1.26 billion, boosted by a same-store sales increase of 12.6% in North America.

On average, Wall Street expected revenue of $1.21 billion.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. – The next chapter for CVS Caremark officially is under way as the company announced on Monday the next stage of its previously announced transition plan and officially named Larry Merlo, president and COO, as CEO, effective March. 1.

Tom Ryan, chairman, president and CEO, will remain nonexecutive chairman until his retirement at the company’s annual meeting of shareholders in May.

SANDPOINT, Idaho – Coldwater Creek has named a new president and chief merchandising officer.

Jill Brown Dean will replace Georgia Shonk Simmons, who announced her intention to retire.

Dean, who most recently served as president of Limited Too's tween brands division, will join the apparel brand on Feb. 14.

In related news, Jerome Jessup, currently EVP, creative director at the brand, was promoted to president and chief creative officer.

Activist investor and hedge fund executive Bill Ackman has accomplished at J.C. Penney what he was unable to do at Target. He secured a seat on the department store retailer’s board after purchasing a bunch of shares and will now be able to push for strategies to increase shareholder value. Joining Ackman on the J.C. Penney board is another large shareholder, Steven Roth, chairman of Vornado Realty Trust.

The challenge of spearheading Target’s entry into Canada will be handled by Tony Fisher. He was named president of Target Canada last week in a brief press release that offered little detail on his background or qualifications to lead the company’s efforts to open between 100 and 150 stores beginning in 2013. Here’s what Target had to say about Fisher.

If you think of Ricky Martin as a one-hit wonder (who doesn’t remember “Livin’ la Vida Loca?”) guess again. Since that catchy pop tune was released more than 10 years ago, Martin became a bonafide superstar selling 65 million records worldwide. Now he has a memoir title Me on the New York Times Bestseller list and an exclusive agreement with Target to serve as a distribution partner for his 12th album, Musica + Alma + Sexo.

Target has never claimed to have the lowest prices, but it might want to rethink that strategy now that it has the benefit of its REDcard loyalty program.

Target plans to launch its new website before the 2011 holiday season as is looking for people to join the Target talent community as it builds a best-in-class multichannel shopping experience. That’s according to the retailer’s website interesting openings are listed along with dozens of testimonials of people who already work for the company.

Oakbrook, Ill. -- McDonald’s Corp. said net income for the fourth quarter, ended Dec. 31, 2010, rose 2.1% to $1.24 billion from $1.22 billion a year earlier.

Revenue increased 4% to $6.21 billion in the fourth quarter from $5.97 billion a year earlier. Global same-store sales rose 5% in the quarter, reflecting increases of 4.4% in the United States, 3.4% in Europe and 5.5% in the Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa division.

Sandpoint, Idaho -- Coldwater Creek announced that Jill Brown Dean has been appointed president and chief merchandising officer, effective Feb. 14. She succeeds Georgia Shonk Simmons who previously announced her intention to retire.

Dean joins Coldwater Creek with over 25 years of retail and merchandising experience in the specialty retail sector. She most recently served as president of the Limited Too division of Tween Brands.