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It was a brief stint for Target in Canada. Less than two years after opening there, Target announced last week that it would close its 133 Canadian stores. Some Canadian Target customers responded emotionally to the news on Target Canada's Facebook website ("totally heartbroken," "please don't go," "good riddance," "you obviously don't understand Canadians"). Target CEO Brian Cornell decided to close the stores after determining that they

Amazon.com's bid to be a key player in the world of mobile payments looks like it's taken a step back today. Amazon Wallet, an Android app developed by the company to store loyalty and gift cards, has been pulled from the Google Play store and Amazon's own app store, where links to each are now dead. "We've learned a great deal from the Amazon Wallet beta program and will look for ways to apply these lessons in the future as we continue to innovate on behalf of our customers," Tom Cook, an Amazon spokesperson said in an email to TechCrunch. 

More than four years after the Dodd-Frank banking reforms directed the Federal Reserve to set a standard for swipe fees — i.e., the money charged to retailers by banks for each debit card transaction — the hotly debated issue appears to have hit a dead end with the U.S. Supreme Court deciding yesterday to not hear an appeal from retailers who contend the Fed set the fees too high.

Target may have ruffled some feathers in the past with what some considered a lack of plus-size offerings, but the retailer seems to be making up for it now. Target says it's launching a new plus-size line, Ava & Viv, which will be sold both online and in-store starting on Feb. 22. "Target is synonymous with great design, and with the launch of Ava & Viv, we're stepping up our fashion game for our plus-size guests," said Stacia Andersen, senior vice president, merchandising, apparel and accessories, Target. 

During the National Retail Federation's Big Show last week, Forbes spoke with a cross section of retail CEOs (and one president) at the convention's annual evening soirees. Here's what's in store for Macy's, Bloomingdale's, The Container Store, HSN and Bliss Spa this year.

Last weekend another teen fashion retailer, Wet Seal, filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection. On the face of it, Wet Seal is just another mid-market fashion retailer that failed to grow profitably. A deeper look makes it apparent that the world of teen fashion has changed irrevocably. The list of casualties is long: while cheap-not-so-chic retailers Delia's and Deb Shops are headed for the dustbin of history, and American Apparel struggles to find its identity, other higher-end retailers have also had some real trouble retaining customers.

From securing the ideal piece of real estate to hiring a qualified sales staff, opening and operating a physical store is a costly endeavor for retailers. So which are getting the most bang for their buck? A recent report by Jefferies analyst Randal Konik figured out just that. Based on his coverage universe, which includes specialty stores and off-price retailers, Konik analyzed companies' returns on investment as it relates to what they earn in sales per square foot, compared to what they pay in rent per square foot.

J.C. Penney is bringing back its print catalog five years after ditching it to focus on the web, The Wall Street Journal reported. The retailer stopped mailing the "Big Book" catalog in 2009 and phased out its distribution of 70 smaller catalogs a year later, the Journal said. The move is substantiated with data showing that many of its online sales were driven by what the shoppers saw in print, the newspaper said. The new, 120-page book will present items from the company's home department and will be sent to select customers in March.

Barnes & Noble CEO William Lynch has resigned. His resignation is effective immediately. Michael Huseby will now be the CEO of NOOK Media and president of Barnes & Noble. Allen Lindstrom has been promoted and will serve as the company's new CFO. 

Sears, despite its own problems keeping its staff employed, is riding to Target workers’ rescue. A day after Target announced plans to close all 133 of its locations in Canada, Sears Canada offered discounts to its competitor's employees and invited them to apply for jobs at its stores. "In recognition of the challenging retail landscape and yesterday's announcement regarding the exit of Target from the Canadian market, Sears Canada wishes to do something meaningful to help employees affected by store closings and job losses and to do so in a respectful manner," the company said in a statement on Friday.