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Imagine having to choose between following your dream of performing with the London Ballet or finishing your high school education. That’s one decision a New York high school senior, who was only two credits shy of graduation, won’t have to make this fall thanks to the Online School for Girls. The student’s bricks-and-mortar school is allowing her take her final two classes through the interactive Web-based school. Four prestigious all-girls schools — Harpeth Hall, Holton-Arms School in Maryland, Laurel School in Ohio and Westover School in Connecticut — joined forces last summer to expand their course offerings by chartering

Wal-Mart Stores has hired Avril Conroy, a former executive with BP Plc’s Russian oil joint venture, to lead the retailer’s Moscow office, according to a Bloomberg report. Wal-Mart has publicly expressed an interest in entering Russia for several years and in 2008 the company opened an office in Moscow that today is said to be staffed by 30 people. The office was previously led by Stephan Fanderl, but he left the company last fall. Wal-Mart spokesman Kevin Gardener declined to provide Conroy’s title or a start date, according to Bloomberg.

In anticipation of the upcoming school year, Sears Holdings has launched a dorm dcor line and digital platform for college-bound students. Coexist by Cannon, a dorm dcor range, is exclusively hitting both Sears and Kmart stores now. The urban-inspired collection includes bedding, decorative elements and dorm essentials. "We created Coexist by Cannon with a unique insight into the urban lifestyle, keeping in mind the popular symbols and fashions that are relevant to teens today," says Theresa Strickland, chief home design officer for Sears and Kmart. "It is important for us as designers to provide an assortment of dorm dcor

As temperatures across the US have skyrocketed this summer, searches for warm weather fashion products have also soared. In the last month, searches for warm weather apparel and footwear correspond with the rising temperatures.

Brookstone reported Tuesday that it recorded a loss of $12.5 million in the quarter ended July 3, compared to a loss of $10.5 million in the year earlier period. Sales rose 4.7% to $76.4 million. Same-store sales increased 4.1%.Ron Boire, president and CEO, said, "We continue to make inroads to returning to historical sales levels, however we continue to face a difficult retail environment. We remain focused on our turnaround efforts."Brookstone currently operates over 300 Brookstone Brand stores nationwide and in Puerto Rico. Most are located in high-traffic regional shopping malls and airports.

NEW YORK, N.Y. - U.S. home prices rose in May for the second straight month as federal tax incentives pulled more buyers into the market. The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index released Tuesday posted a 1.3 per cent increase in May from April. Nineteen of 20 cities showed price gains month over month. San Diego posted its 13th straight monthly gain. Only Las Vegas recorded a price decline. The metro hit a new record low in May. Home prices there have lost 56.4 per cent of their value since peaking in August 2006. And while Detroit recorded

GameStop Corp. said Tuesday it will acquire Kongregate, a social gaming destination and community for core gamers representing the fast-growing free-to-play gaming market. Kongregate will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of GameStop Corp., said the company, and maintain its current offices in San Francisco.The transaction is expected to close on Aug. 1.According to GameStop, acquiring Kongregate strengthens its digital platform. “Kongregate advances GameStop’s digital strategy by providing a gaming platform for casual, mobile and browser games that can be promoted and played by our existing gamers,” said J. Paul Raines, GameStop CEO.Since launching its website in 2007, Kongregate.com

REI may be one of the best companies at turning shopping into an experience and turning customers into devoted patrons. That's because REI isn't merely a place to pick up parkas, tents or bikes. It's a store where customers can go to learn how to use a GPS device on a trail, figure out which local waterways offer the best kayaking for beginners and discover what to pack for a summit attempt on a 14,000-foot peak. It's a place where outdoor enthusiasts go to be inspired.

Macy’s has launched an m-commerce website for its Macy’s brand department store chain and plans to roll out a similar Bloomingdale’s mobile shop next week.

Hoffman Estates, Ill.-based Sears Holdings Corp. announced that it has signed a long-term lease with Forever 21 to occupy approximately 43,000 sq. ft. of its retail store property at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, Calif. The remaining space at the Sears' store at South Coast Plaza will continue to offer its full assortment of products and services, with an improved layout to accommodate Forever 21's larger store concept XXI Forever as its new neighbor. At the Sears-owned property at South Coast Plaza, XXI Forever will lease a small portion of the upper level and a portion of the