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comScore's U.S. retail e-commerce sales estimate for last year's fourth quarter showed that online retail spending reached $49.7 billion, up 14 percent vs. 2010. This represented the ninth consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth and fifth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth. U.S. retail e-commerce spending in 2011 reached a record $161.5 billion, marking a 13 percent increase from 2010.

J.C. Penney said it fully backs its partnership with talk show host Ellen DeGeneres after a conservative group urged the retailer to reconsider hiring DeGeneres as a spokeswoman because she's a lesbian.

At a factory about an hour west of Sichuan's capital Chengdu, Foxconn Technology Group, one of Apple's biggest manufacturing partners, employs hundreds of thousands who work day or night shifts, eating and sleeping at company facilities, as they help build electronics products for Apple and many other global brand names, such as Amazon's Kindle and Microsoft's Xbox.

Hong Kong -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Tuesday it has named Greg Foran as president and CEO of Walmart China. Foran, who joined Walmart last October, is a long-time veteran of Australian retailing group Woolworths, where his areas of experience included...

Urban Outfitters has appointed a former executive as CEO of its namesake brand. The company named Tedford Marlow as head of the Urban Outfitters Group, effective Feb. 6. Marlow had retired from the chain in 2010.

Toys"R"Us has named Richard Barry as senior vice president, chief merchandising officer, for its U.S operations. In his new role, Barry is responsible for all aspects of merchandising initiatives for the company's U.S. operations.

This February, Saks Fifth Avenue will give 5 percent of all registered purchases made with a Saks Fifth Avenue credit card to charity. The donations will benefit certain local organizations, keeping support within each Saks Fifth Avenue store's immediate community. Saks Fifth Avenue has partnered with 194 charitable organizations nationwide.

The Container Store announced it will open six locations in 2012, making this the largest real estate growth year in the company's history and bringing the company's store count to 59 by year's end.

Online fashion retailer Bluefly announced it's promoted Joseph Park, previously chief operating officer, to CEO, effective immediately. Park replaces Melissa Payner, who resigned as CEO and a member of the company’s board of directors.

Multichannel retailer HSN and food lifestyle brand Bon Appetit partnered on Jan. 31 for the highly successful launch of the Bon Appetit Collection. One of the most successful culinary launches in the retailer's history, the debut of the new line of cookware, small appliances and kitchen tools resulted in more than 20,000 units being sold in one day.