EARNINGS / IN BRIEF

* Williams-Sonoma Inc., owner of the Pottery Barn and Williams-Sonoma retail chains, said third-quarter profit surged 58% as the company boosted the amount of merchandise it offers and opened more stores. Net income rose to $23.9 million, or 20 cents a share, from $15.1 million, or 13 cents, a year earlier. Sales jumped 20% to $632.8 million.

* Sharper Image Corp. reported a third-quarter profit of $985,000, or 6 cents a share, contrasted with a loss of $504,000, or 4 cents, a year earlier. Revenue including retail store and catalog sales, as well as delivery charges, increased 24% to $131.1 million.

* Barnes & Noble Inc. said third-quarter profit more than doubled to $10.2 million, or 14 cents a share, from $3.83 million, or 5 cents, a year earlier. Sales rose 12% to $1.27 billion.

* Borders Group Inc. reported third-quarter net income of $500,000, or 1 cent a share, compared with a net loss of $1.8 million, or 2 cents, a year earlier. Revenue rose 7.9% to $816.7 million.