Sales & Marketing

New York City -- According to a special national consumer poll commissioned by the International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs, 31% of households plan to shop on Black Friday in 2010 compared with 26% in 2009. However, the strongest driver of Black Friday shopping is children, as 43% of households with kids are planning to shop on that day. Additionally, 37% of households reported that they plan to shop on the Saturday or Sunday after Thanksgiving.

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.

Miami -- Beachwood, Ohio-based Developers Diversified Realty Corp. said that The Sports Authority, HomeGoods and a selection of retail shops and restaurants are opening and coming soon to The Shops at Midtown Miami, a 645,000-sq.-ft. mixed-use retail, dining and residential center.

The Sports Authority plans to open a 34,544-sq.-ft. store in 2011. HomeGoods opened a 25,351-sq.-ft. location in late fall 2010.

Columbus, Ind.  -- New York City-based Centro Properties Group announced that Panera Bread has opened a 4,100-sq.-ft. location at Columbus Center, in Columbus, Ind.

Centro Properties Group is the owner of Columbus Center.

Minneapolis -- Target Corp.'s fiscal third-quarter earnings rose 22.6%, beating analysts' estimates, boosted by improvements in its credit-card business and rising food sales. The chain also projected a strong holiday, saying it expects an important sales measure to rise more sharply than it has in three years. It is hoping to lure more shoppers during the holidays with its updated store layout and a new credit-card program that offers 5% off all purchases.

Chicago -- Better-than-expected response to early sales promotions mixed with relatively mild weather throughout the country are already driving holiday traffic to malls and retail outlets have caused ShopperTrak to up its 2010 holiday forecast.