Helen of Troy Limited, a designer, developer and worldwide marketer of brand-name personal care and household consumer products, reported third quarter net sales for the quarter ended Nov. 30 rose 2% to $189.3 million. For the nine months, sales rose 2.3% to $484.1 million.

Third quarter net earnings surged 66.7% to $24.7 million. Net earnings for the nine months soared 79% to $55.1 million.

“We are very pleased with our substantially increased net operating results for the third quarter and nine months ended November 30, 2009, which we achieved in a very difficult retail sales environment,” said Gerald J. Rubin, chairman, chief executive officer and president. “Our housewares segment continues its unbroken record of sustained growth. Our personal care segment has been affected by the poor retail economy during 2009.

According to Rubin, the company continues to review and adjust its business activities to address a slowly improving economic environment, while managing liquidity and continuing to control expenses.

“During this difficult period, we believe we are well positioned financially to continue to seek prudent opportunities to grow our business. We also continue our focus on expense reductions, while striving to increase sales and gross margins for the coming year. We believe that our consumer brand leadership positions in our market segments will be the basis for positioning our company for continued growth and success,” Rubin concluded.