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WellPoint Inc., the second-biggest U.S. health plan, will acquire eyeglass and contact-lens retailer 1-800 Contacts to expand its consumer offerings as more people buy their own medical insurance.

Google has announced that it will transition Google Product Search away from being free for merchants to list their products into a commercial model built on the Product Listing Ads program. The new paid program will simply be called Google Shopping.

Macy's Inc. is expanding its pilot program that used 23 store locations as backup sites for its online distribution centers. By fall, that number will grow to 292, according to a story from The Press-Enterprise. The "search & send" program allows customers to buy out-of-stock merchandise from a brick-and-mortar location and get it shipped from another store to their home or office. Each of the 292 back-up stores will house a space behind the scenes to receive orders and pack and ship merchandise from the sales floor.

Pittsburgh Business Times by , Reporter Related: Retailing & Restaurants, Consumer Goods, Pittsburgh, South Side Robert Hanson, CEO of American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE: AEO) Reporter- Pittsburgh Business Times Email | Twitter | Google | Facebook In his first annual meeting, American Eagle Outfitters CEO Robert Hanson described the fashion retailer as poised for modest, broad-based growth in a still-challenging environment. The South Side-based company was able to achieve 6 percent growth in fiscal 2011, with sales rising to $3.1 billion and comparable store sales up four percent. First-quarter sales were up 18 percent. "We’re feeling good about the

Jones Group Inc. announced that it is deepening its partnership with world renowned designer Brian Atwood through the acquisition of the Brian Atwood brand. The transaction will bring Brian Atwood's existing and future collections, inclusive of his luxury shoe collections, into the Company's portfolio and furthers Jones' strategy of acquiring and nurturing the world's best creative talents and designer brands to infuse a strong design-driven perspective in the Company's portfolio. 

Los Angeles -- Regional sporting goods retailer Sport Chalet reported Monday that it lost $3.8 million in the quarter ended April 1, compared with net income of $300,000 in the year-ago period. The company cited warm weather trends for the weakened performance. Revenue fell 16.6% to $81.9 million, from $98.2 million. Same-store sales dropped 5.3%.

Amazon.com, Inc. nd Avalon Books today announced that Amazon Publishing has acquired the publication rights from Avalon Books to over 3,000 backlist titles predominantly in the Romance, Mystery and Western categories. Established in 1950 by Thomas Bouregy, Avalon Books has long been a home to writers specializing in wholesome entertainment across popular genres, such as Holly Jacobs, Carolyn Hughey and Carolyn Brown.

Brooks Brothers Group and Reliance Brands Limited announced Tuesday the formation of a joint venture company in India. Reliance Brands, a division of Reliance Industries Group, will use its local connections to bring the American brand to India.