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TJX Cos. said Tuesday that net income for the second quarter increased more than 16%, citing climbing sales for the improvement in profit. The owner of T.J. Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods said it posted a profit of $305 million for the quarter, compared with a profit of $261.6 million in the year-ago period.Revenue rose more than 6% to $5.07 billion."We believe this speaks to the strength of our business model and our ability to drive profitable growth regardless of the economic environment," TJX president and CEO Carol Meyrowitz said in a statement.

* Shares up 1.1 percent (Adds Q3 outlook, background, stock activity) NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lowe's Cos missed quarterly profit and sales estimates as benefits from the homebuyer tax credit and cash for appliances programs waned, and the retailer warned of uncertain demand. The second-largest home improvement chain after Home Depot also forecast current-quarter profit of 28 cents to 32 cents a share, while analysts were expecting 31 cents. Sales at Lowe's and Home Depot had benefited immensely in the first quarter, which ended in April. Many

DALLAS, Aug. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Neiman Marcus announced today that it has launched an enhanced mobile version of the neimanmarcus.com web site that enables customers to shop from any mobile device. Neiman Marcus partnered with Usablenet to optimize their existing e-commerce site. Mobile phone users will automatically be re-directed to the m-commerce site when they type in the standard web site URL, neimanmarcus.com. The full merchandise assortment available on the web is available on the mobile. Customers will also have the ability to access full account management including order history and status, as well as store locations. "Mobile shopping

Best Buy Co. (BBY) will launch a 'location-based retail experiment' in roughly one-quarter of its U.S. locations by Oct. 1., with consumers able to receive offers and rewards while in the store via a mobile-phone application.

STOCKHOLM (Dow Jones)--Swedish fashion retailer Hennes & Mauritz AB

When Laura J. Alber was named Williams-Sonoma CEO in January, she got some advice from the company's founder, Charles E. "Chuck" Williams: "Don't change it. Make it better." Williams-Sonoma - Business - Home - Cooking - Laura J. Alber

Nordstrom's second-quarter profit jumped nearly 39% as shoppers flocked to its sales. The company maintained its full-year outlook. Nordstrom earned $146 million for the quarter that ended July 31, up from $105 million in the year-ago period.The company's revenue rose nearly 13% to $2.5 billion as both sales and credit card revenue rose. Same-store sales rose 8.4%. Nordstrom, which operates its upscale department store chain and discounter Nordstrom Rack, credited the growth to sales momentum and three special sale events.Interestingly, shoppers appeared to favor its traditional stores and shied away from Nordstrom Rack during the quarter. Same-store sales grew

J.C. Penney Co. reported a second quarter profit versus break-even results last year, but it cut its full-year forecast blaming the “uncertain consumer climate.” The chain earned $14 million, in line with analyst expectations.Total sales declined 0.1% to $3.94 billion, which the company said was due to its decision last year to discontinue its Big Book catalogs in 2010. Analysts had forecast sales would be up 1.7% to $4 billion. Same-store sale rose 0.1%. Internet sales rose 4% to $317 million.J.C. Penney said improvements in its merchandise assortments, including the introduction of new brands, contributed to profitability.“The success of

Men's Wearhouse announced the creation of Men's Wearhouse Global Corporate Apparel and Workwear Group and corresponding management teams in Europe and North America.On Aug. 6, Men's Wearhouse formed a U.K. holding company and acquired Dimensions Clothing Ltd. ("Dimensions") and certain assets of Alexandra, plc, two leading providers of corporate clothing uniforms and workwear in the United Kingdom. The U.K. group will be a significant platform for growth opportunities in Europe and joins the company's North American Group, which includes TwinHill.George Zimmer, Men's Wearhouse founder, chairman and CEO, stated, "We have greatly enhanced our corporate apparel and workwear programs with

Private equity firm Irving Place Capital said Thursday it will acquire pet specialty retailer Pet Supplies "Plus".Irving Place Capital said it will be investing in partnership with Pet Supplies “Plus” CEO Harvey Solway, COO Dominic Buccellato and CFO Richard Valade.� � The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2010.Pet Supplies “Plus” currently operates 240 franchised stores in 22 states. Following the transaction, 92 stores will be converted to company-operated stores, with the remaining stores continuing as franchised stores.�