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Richardson, Texas-based Fossil Inc. has appointed John A. White as executive vice president and COO. White will be responsible for the company’s supply chain, distribution and warehousing, legal and information technology operations, with a focus on...

The National Retail Federation is opposing a proposed $7.25 billion settlement that Visa, MasterCard and major banks have agreed to pay retailers for alleged fee fixing. The retail trade association said Tuesday that its board has given approval for it to go to court to try to block the settlement. The NRF, which is not a party to the lawsuit that led to the settlement, says it is unsure whether outside groups will be allowed to intervene, or if the case qualifies as a class action.

Social Labs today released its findings regarding how online retailers implement Facebook's log-in button. The company examined how the top 500 online retailers integrated the plug-in as an alternative option for their account creation, site registration and site log-in processes. The 14-page study titled "Log In With Facebook and the 2012 Internet Retailer Top 500″ shows the numbers aren't pretty: only 30 out of the top 500 sites, or 6 percent, integrated Facebook with the core of their e-commerce site for the purpose of user account creation.

Orlando, Fla. -- The nation’s chain retailers lead the nation when it comes to commercial solar energy use, according to a report by the Solar Energy Industries Association and Vote Solar Initiative advocacy group. The study names the top 20 U.S....

Oak Brook, Ill. -- Ace Hardware Corp. has reported substantial growth and expansion in priority markets across the country. “Our aggressive, long-term growth strategy features a total package of resources and support to ensure a successful future for...

As Google shifts its Shopping search to a pay-for-play model, one key commerce company appears to be sitting on the sidelines: Amazon.com. As noted in a New York Times feature that ran last weekend, consumers who search on Google Shopping can find Kindles from a variety of stores via the listings, but Amazon isn't one of them. Google Shopping's omission of the most powerful e-commerce brand on the web raises the question of how successful the company's new model will be.

New York -- The Jones Group Inc. said Wednesday it has appointed Kathy Nedorostek to the newly created position of group president, global footwear and accessories, effective mid-October. In her new position, Nedorostek will oversee footwear, handbags...

Microsoft has announced plans to open 30 "pop-up" holiday stores across the U.S. and two in Canada, an effort intended to drum up interest in Windows 8 and its Surface tablet ahead of the holiday shopping season. The Redmond, Wash. company operates 23 permanent stores nationwide with another eight opening soon. These locations are mostly on the east and west coasts: The holiday locations are placed in areas without permanent retail stores, with several in the Midwest. With the new locations, Microsoft's retail footprint more than doubles, if only temporarily.

More and more shoppers, armed with smartphones, are going to brick-and-mortar outlets to examine and evaluate merchandise, and then buying the product they want online, often while they're still in the store, to get a better deal. The practice is known as "showrooming," an apt term because it effectively transforms mall outlets and big box stores into showrooms for their online competitors. Brick-and-mortar retailers of every size and in every category are asking themselves how to avoid becoming victims of this trend, but the unfortunate truth is that in today's retail environment some degree of showrooming is inevitable.

CNBC's Robert Frank reports a wave of selling is hitting high-end retailers this year.