eCommerce

Seattle -- Nordstrom reported Thursday that net income for its second quarter rose 20% to $175 million, compared with $146 million in the year earlier period.

Revenue surged 12.4% to $2.72 billion, benefited by strong promotions and matching Wall Street estimates. Same-store sales rose a solid 7.3%. The department store retailer has raised its profit outlook for the full year.

Its outlet concept Nordstrom Rack saw net sales increase 23.4% to $92 million, and same-store sales rose 4.8%.

New York City -- Wal-Mart Stores is again looking into a possible deal to buy Carrefour’s Brazilian unit, according to reports by Bloomberg News and The Wall Street Journal.

According to the reports, the acquisition would enhance Wal-Mart’s position in Latin America.
 

SEATTLE — In another sign that the U.S. economy is affecting lower-income families more than those in higher earning brackets, luxury retailer Nordstrom reported a same-store sales increase of 7.3% for its second quarter and net sales of $2.72 billion, an increase of 12.4% compared with net sales of $2.42 billion for the same period last year.

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Body Central Corp., operator of the Body Central and Body Shop retail chains, reported Friday that net income for the second quarter was $5.3 million, compared with $2.3 million in the year-ago period.

Net revenues increased 22.1% to $74.7 million, compared with $61.2 million for second quarter 2010. Same-store sales increased 14.7%.
 

Dallas -- Zale Corp. and designer Vera Wang announced they are teaming up on an exclusive line of diamond bridal jewelry.

The new Vera Wang Love collection will include diamond engagement rings, matching wedding bands and solitaire bridal jewelry. Each ring will have the Vera Wang Love logo, and every engagement ring will include a blue sapphire.

The collection will be sold only at Zale stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. The jewelry will be in United States and Puerto Rico stores in October.
 

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Shortly after Nordstrom reported a 20% quarterly earnings gain, fellow luxury retailer Dillard's posted net income of $17.6 million, or 32 cents per share, compared with $6.8 million, or 10 cents per share, for the same period last year.

Same-store sales for the second quarter were up 6%. Net sales for the quarter were $1.44 billion compared with $1.4 billion last year.

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Friday by the Commerce Department said that retail sales in the U.S. rose 0.5% in July, the most in four months and demonstrating that consumers may be holding their own in a tumultuous economy.

The 0.5% increase matched the Bloomberg News median forecast followed a 0.3% gain in June that was larger than estimated. Excluding auto sales, purchases rose more than projected.

Armonk, N.Y. -- IBM announced that S&S Worldwide grew recommendation sales 75% in just three months with IBM Smarter Commerce software in the cloud.  S&S is a national distributor of sporting goods products for recreation, health care, and education professionals and is using IBM software to drive personalized product recommendation sales via its Web sites.