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President Barack Obama plans to announce an initiative today that links companies including Gap and United Technologies Corp. with community colleges for programs aimed at boosting the job skills of American workers.

Now that Apple is expanding distribution of the iPad beyond its stores and website to other retailers, consumers that want one are confronted with the question of where to buy it. What criteria do you think most would-be iPad buyers are going to use when selecting a store/website to make their purchase?

eBay announced that qualified shoppers would now see Bill Me Later offers on eBay View Item pages, "just in time for the holiday shopping season." Bill Me Later will also appear on the Review Your Purchase page along with a direct link to Bill Me Later's application and checkout process. eBay acquired Bill Me Later in 2008 - it offers transaction-based credit to online shoppers at the time of checkout, allowing qualified eBay and PayPal customers in the U.S. to buy items and pay for them over time without using a credit card. An announcement on the PayPal Blog

Hingham, Mass.-based women's clothing retailer Talbots (NYSE:TLB) said it will shutter 75 to 100 stores over three years after cutting its full-year and third-quarter revenue forecasts. For the third quarter, the retailer anticipates a revenue decline in the low single digits. Previously, it predicted a low single digits increase in revenue. Talbots expects an increase of about 1 percent for the full year, down from previous predictions. By the end of the second quarter, the retailer had 580 stores. The company says the closings will be done by allowing some leases to expire and not renewing others.

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Borders Group announced late Monday that it is making several changes to its merchandising team under the direction of chief merchandising officer Michele Cloutier. The retailer is bringing back Kathryn Popoff as VP merchandising.

Golfsmith, the nation’s largest golf retailer, has announced the launch of a customized mobile iPhone/iPod Touch shopping experience for consumers through mobile commerce provider Digby. The new mobile app complements the mobile web platform that Golfsmith launched earlier this year and will provide Golfsmith customers with a new seamless mobile shopping experience making research, purchases and access to promotions much easier. Through this new iPhone/iPod Touch app, Golfsmith is offering rich and unique features including a live “Promotions” board and “Play Video” product demonstrations by Golfsmith product experts.“As we continue to innovate, our new mobile web and iPhone/iPod Touch

NEW YORK, Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrating its fortieth year, Jones Apparel Group As one of the world's leading fashion companies, The Jones Group designs and markets many of today's largest and most influential lifestyle brands, including Nine West, Jones New York and Anne Klein - as well as recent portfolio additions such as Rachel Roy, Robert Rodriguez and Stuart Weitzman. The name change reflects this evolution. Sidney Kimmel, Founder and Chairman of The Jones Group, said: "I am humbled to think that 40 years ago we started with nine associates on Walnut Street in Philadelphia as a single

ISELIN, N.J., Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Maidenform Brands, Inc. "We are very pleased to enter into this partnership with Coconut Grove," said Maurice Reznik, Chief Executive Officer of Maidenform Brands, Inc.

Tim Lowe was named president of regional grocery store chain , effective Oct. 11. Lowe returns to Shoppers after a brief stint as senior vice president of operations at Burlington Coat Factory. Before Burlington, Lowe was senior vice president of operations for Shoppers, owned by Eden Prarie, Minn.-based SuperValu Inc. (NYSE: SVU) Lowe replaces Dick Bergman, who Shoppers has 19 locations in Greater Baltimore.