American Apparel Inc. (APP) third-quarter earnings jumped 78% after year-earlier stock compensation related to a 2008 merger depressed margins. Meanwhile, sales continued to remain week for the casual-clothing retailer.

American Apparel reported a profit of $4.2 million, or 5 cents a share, from $2.3 million, or 3 cents a share, a year earlier. A year earlier, the period included merger-related compensation expenses, excluding which earnings were 16 cents a share.

Revenue decreased 2.9% to $150.3 million, as same-store sales dropped 16% on a constant currency basis.

Gross margin leapt nine percentage points to 58.1%, and rose only slightly from last year's margin excluding merger expenses of 57.6%.

But better sourcing is not simply about buying at a lower price, according to Sue Butler, senior manager at Kurt Salmon Associates (KSA), the global consultancy specialising in retail and consumer goods.

Speaking at a seminar in London last week on 'Global Sourcing Skills and Supply Chains,' Butler said: "Quite often sourcing just looks at how we get products at the lowest price possible, but a sourcing strategy looks at how you get product at the right price and quality and in a balanced way.

By developing the right sourcing strategy it is possible to maintain margins and not get drawn into an increased level of markdown towards the end of the season.

Butler also points out that shoppers also have higher expectations too, not only for newness but in the use of technology such as the internet to make price comparisons.

New Orleans and New England rank at the top of the NFL in total offense heading into their matchup. Both have averaged more than 400 yards per game; the Patriots are averaging 29.0 points per game while the Saints are scoring 36.9 points per game. Both have 20 or more passing touchdowns and 11 or more rushing touchdowns.

Cowell said the pair planned to stage two shows a week which fans could watch online on a pay-per-view basis. Cowell and Sir Philip told the magazine that, if the project was successful in Las Vegas, they planned to stage similar X Factor competitions in other countries.