Direct To Consumer (DTC)

New York City -- A Bloomberg report on Tuesday said that Borders Group has garnered court approval for the sale of its intellectual property to Barnes & Noble after a recent question about privacy issues was resolved.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Martin Glenn in Manhattan approved the transaction after reviewing new terms between Borders and Barnes & Noble that will protect the privacy rights of 48 million customers.

New York City -- High-end Swiss cosmetic retailer La Prairie will expand its Fifth Avenue location, between 53rd and 54th Streets.

According to its real estate representative Cushman & Wakefield, La Prairie will expand and occupy an additional 9,400 sq. ft. and the entire 11th floor of its existing building. The company also occupies the entire 13th and 14th floors.

La Prairie will occupy a total of 22,110 sq. ft. in the 26-story building.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores announced that Eduardo Castro-Wright, 56, vice chairman and CEO of the company’s Global eCommerce and Global Sourcing businesses, will retire on July 1, 2012. The company said it plans name new leadership for these businesses by the end of January, after which Castro-Wright will assist in the transition.
 

Mahwah, N.J. -- North American furniture and home accessories retailer Design Within Reach has selected TD Retail Card Services to develop and administer its private label credit card for its locations in the United States.

Under the agreement, the Mahwah, N.J.-based business unit of TD Bank, N.A., will direct all facets of the program for the retailer's 43 Studio locations.

The new Design Within Reach credit card will offer consumers a full menu of deferred interest and equal pay programs.

New Rochelle, N.Y. -- Welco Realty, an X Team Partner, said it has arranged a lease representing Pier 1 Imports for Rego Center, in Queens, N.Y., for 8,500 sq. ft.

The firm represented both the landlord and tenant for leases at Bay Plaza Shopping Center, Bronx, N.Y., for 9,599 sq. ft. and at Summerhill Square, in East Brunswick, N.J., for 9,000 sq. ft.
 

Indianapolis -- The Finish Line reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended Aug. 27 rose 24% to $20.9 million, compared with $16.8 million in the year-ago period.

Sales rose 10% to $331.5 million, beating Wall Street’s expectations of $321.9 million, and same-store sales surged 11%.

New York City -- Apparel designer Yigal Azrouel will open its first freestanding store, for its Cut25 lower-priced, younger collection, in the Soho South area of Manhattan.

Prudential Douglas Elliman’s Retail Group arranged a lease at 129 Grand Street, between Broadway and Crosby Street, for the new store. The opening date hasn’t yet been announced.

 

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Office Depot has launched a new line of exclusive office chairs from the Style@Work by Thomasville collection. According to the company, the Style@Work by Thomasville collection provides customers with luxury home office chairs at an affordable price, and are currently available at nationwide Office Depot retail store locations and online at www.officedepot.com.