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Now + Here, a new clothing destination featuring exclusive teen–driven brands, is launching at Sears stores in time for the back–to–school shopping season.

ShopperTrak’s National Retail Sales Estimate (NRSE) Wednesday reported that year-over-year GAFO retail sales increased 3.9% for the week ending July 24 while sales rose 1.3% versus the previous week ending July 17.Both yearly and weekly sales increased last week as warm weather throughout the country continued to drive sales of seasonal, summer merchandise, according to ShopperTrak. Additionally, consumers most likely responded to “Christmas in July” promotions and sales offered by a number of retailers last week, also boosting GAFO sales performance. To date, ShopperTrak reports year-over-year retail sales have increased 25 out of 30 weeks so far this year.“Christmas

West Marine reported Thursday that its profit rose 11.5% in the second quarter ended July 3 to $36 million, from $32.3 million in the year-ago period.Revenues rose 8.4% to $233.4 million. Same-store sales increased 9.4%.Boating supplies and accessories retailer West Marine operates 330 company-operated stores located in 38 states, Puerto Rico, Canada and two franchised stores located in Turkey.

Online mass merchandiser Buy.com is reportedly working with two brick-and-mortar retailers as it prepares to debut a white-la - More - 

Childrenswear retailer and manufacturer Carter's said Thursday that its net income for the second quarter ended July 3 rose 15% to $19.1 million, but that adjusted results were flat.Revenue was also nearly flat at $327 million from $326.3 million last year. Wall Street expected revenue of $340.6 million.Same-store sales fell 4.3% at Carter's stores and fell 4.9% at OshKosh stores.

Trian Fund Management, through which activist investor and billionaire financer Nelson Peltz has invested in companies ranging from Wendy's/Arby's Group to H. J. Heinz Co., on Wednesday reported ownership of a stake of nearly 6.6% in Family Dollar Stores. In a regulatory filing, Peltz said that Family Dollar's shares are "undervalued in the market place and represent an attractive investment opportunity." He now owns more than 8.7 million shares of the discounter, which operates more than 6,700 stores nationwide.Peltz noted in the filing that he has met with Family Dollar chairman and CEO Howard R. Levine and senior management

Golfsmith International Holdings said Thursday that net income for the quarter ended July 3 dropped to $6.2 million, from $6.8 million a year earlier.Revenues increased 2.8% to $118.0 million. Same-store sales dipped 0.4%.The specialty retailer of golf and tennis equipment, apparel and accessories operates about 70 stores across the United States.

Boat retailer MarineMax reported Thursday that it posted a profit of $512,000 for the third quarter ended June 30, comparedwith a loss of $9.2 million a year ago. Included in third quarter 2010 net income was $1 million in loan write-offs. Included in third quarter 2009 loss was $2 million associated with store-closing costs.Revenue for the quarter dropped to $115.4 million, compared with $151.5 million in the year-ago period. Same-store sales declined 17%.MarineMax operates 56 retail locations in 19 states.

Rite Aid Corp. said Thursday it recorded a 2.2% drop in sales for the month of July, decreasing from $1.929 billion to $1.886 billion. Same-store sales dipped 1.1%.Rite Aid operates 4,751 stores, 66 stores fewer than the year-ago period.

* Q2 EPS 41 cents in line with Street estimate * Sales rise 4.7 pct to $1.01 billion NEW YORK (Reuters) - RadioShack Corp reported a higher quarterly profit, in line with expectations, as the consumer electronics chain benefited from higher postpaid wireless sales and the launch of key products like Apple's iPhone 4. The company, long speculated to be a takeover target, has shifted its focus to its wireless business to offset tepid sales of products like TV converter boxes, videogame systems and batteries.