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With just nine days until Christmas, the National Retail Federation has revised its holiday forecast upward, expecting holiday sales to rise 3.8 percent this year to a record $469.1 billion. The initial forecast, announced on Oct. 6, called for anticipated sales growth of 2.8 percent.

On Black Friday, JoS. A. Bank's mobile checkout saw an increase of over 3,000 percent compared to its previous daily average. The exceptional holiday sales demonstrate consumers' growing comfort with purchasing high-consideration goods on their mobile.

Technology start-up Embodee, whose proprietary online apparel try-on and customization services were developed by award winning creators of visual effects for "The Matrix" movies, has launched its second year and expanded services with Hurley, a quintessential youth lifestyle brand. Using Embodee technologies, Hurley's online shoppers can virtually try-on the full line of Hurley denims styles and washes, and other pants, including corduroys and twills. Now with over 500 digitized pant options to choose from, Hurley customers will benefit from Embodee’s life-like visualizations of best fits from each style and wash on them. Record Sales, Record Reduction in Returns Embodee,

Uniqlo opened two unique flagship stores in the heart of Manhattan’s busiest shopping districts this fall. Shoppers who walk into the Fifth Avenue Uniqlo find themselves canopied under a three-story vaulted ceiling and faced with a sleek staircase accessorized with color-changing LED lighting.

SEATTLE, WA (BRAIN)—REI on Thursday announced plans to open new stores in Ohio and Oregon next year, and relocate a store in North Carolina. The three new locations are in addition to three previously announced openings planned for next year, in Indiana, California and Virginia. The openings will bring the cooperative's retail locations to about 130 in 29 states.                       The new locations: Cincinnati, Ohio: REI’s first location in Ohio will be nearly 22,000 square feet and open next fall. Medford, Oregon: The Medford store will be about 23,500 square feet and open next fall in Alba Village. Cary,

After a Good Samaritan helped her pay off the layaway bill she’d accumulated to buy Christmas gifts for her grandchildren, Lori Stearnes planned to collect her paycheck Friday and head to Kmart anyway. Her new plan? Pay the stranger’s kindness forward by using the money she’d budgeted to instead support somebody else.

Bloomberg reporters went to Burkina Faso, Africa where Victoria's Secret usually buys fair trade and organic-certified cotton crop to make the lingerie it sells. Reporters there found 13-year-old children laboring in the fields in pain from being beaten with switches by their bosses, the cotton farmers.

Ann Taylor may be better known as your mother's favorite store than your own, but thanks to a new campaign it looks set to become a fashion destination for those in their 20s too. The online lookbook takes its lead from street style blogs like Scott Schumann's Sartorialist and Jak and Jill, featuring girls from universities across the U.S. wearing the label's latest collections.

Hamleys has removed "sexist" signs dividing toys into boys and girls departments after being accused of gender stereotyping. The London toy store has scrapped pink and blue signs and replaced them with gender neutral red and white ones. The store now categorizes toys by interest and type rather than whether they're aimed at boys or girls after an online campaign.

December holiday sales remain flat year-over-year but are showing signs of growth to come. Double-digit increases in week-over-week sales show shoppers are spending this holiday season. According to ShopperTrak, the week ending Dec. 10 saw a 10.6 percent increase in retail sales from the previous week.