Apparel

Fort Meyers, Fla.  -- Chico’s FAS said its third-quarter profit  rose 27% to $28.8 million from $22.7 million a year ago, driven by higher sales. The results beat analysts projections.

Net sales rose 8.1% to $483 million, from $446.9 million a year ago. Same-store sales rose 3.1%.

Direct-to-consumer sales, which includes online sales and isn’t included in comparable-store sales, increased about 41% to $34.4 million in the quarter.

Chicago -- Black Friday sales are expected to increase by 3.8% and Cyber Monday sales to grow by 2.5% this holiday season, according to BDO USA’s Retail Compass Survey of CMOs, which polls chief marketing officers at 100 leading U.S. retailers. Black Friday and Cyber Monday expectations are more bullish this year compared with 2009 when both were expected to rise by 1.8%.

Seattle -- Nordstrom said its third-quarter profit rose a more-than-expected 43% to $119 million on improved sales and margin improvements. The company raised the low end of its fiscal year profit forecast.

Revenues rose to $2.18 billion from $1.96 billion. Same-store sales increased 5.8%.

Best-selling items were jewelry, shoes and dresses.

"Our customers are highly receptive to newness and fashion in spite of the soft economic climate," company president Blake Nordstrom said in a conference call with analysts.

New York City -- Saks reported Tuesday that its net income rose to $36.3 million for the quarter ended Oct. 30, up from $6.3 million in the year-ago period. Third-quarter 2010 results were helped by a surge in luxury spending and a $26.7 million gain related to income tax reversals.

Revenues rose to $658.8 million for the quarter, compared with $631.4 million the prior year. Same-store sales increased 5.7%.

New York City -- Asking rents for retail spaces in New York City hot spots are rising in certain corridors, according to The Real Estate Board of New York’s (REBNY) Fall 2010 Retail Report.

According to the report, since spring 2010, retail asking rents climbed 21% to $1700 per square foot in the Times Square corridor defined by Broadway and 7th Avenue between 42nd and 47th Streets.

Beachwood, Ohio -- Developers Diversified Realty Corp. announced the opening of Dick's Sporting Goods at The Fountains, a completely redeveloped 477,343-sq.-ft. community shopping center located in Plantation, Fla.

Dick's Sporting Goods joins Kohl's, which opened in 2009, as one of the first new tenants at the redeveloped center. In addition, Jo-Ann fabric and craft stores will open a 20,000-sq.-ft. store and Lime Fresh Mexican Grill will open a 2,160-sq.-ft. restaurant early in 2011. The center also features Marshalls and HomeGoods and is 93% leased.

Framingham, Mass. -- The TJX Cos.' fiscal third-quarter earnings rose 7%, topping its own forecasts, as the discount retailer's sales improved.

The company reported a better-than-expected profit of $372.3 million, up from $347.8 million in the year-ago period. Net sales rose 5% to $5.53 billion, from $5.24 billion. Same-store sales increased 1%.