International Strategy

India's government announced an inquiry into lobbying practices by Wal-Mart Stores on Wednesday after a report that the retailer had pressed U.S. lawmakers to help gain access to foreign markets. Wal-Mart disclosed in a report to the U.S. Senate it had paid $25 million over four years to lobby American lawmakers, in part to help gain access to overseas markets including India.

FiftyOne Global Ecommerce, a provider of global e-commerce solutions, released data and survey findings showing that international sales more than tripled at U.S. retailers as consumers in over 100 countries around the world opened their wallets to take part in Black Friday and Cyber Monday holiday shopping specials. U.S. retailers have increasingly positioned themselves to expand their reach and grow sales beyond their borders, especially during the critical holiday shopping season.

Toys"R"Us may be in the throes of an intensely competitive holiday season, but several recently announced initiatives are designed to position the company for success beyond Christmas 2012. Expanding its presence in global e-commerce, as well as Asia, the company is launching a dedicated web store, Toysrus.com.cn, in China. Toys"R"Us is also developing mobile-optimized sites and apps for iOS and Android in 11 markets around the world, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Spain and the U.K. Tablet-optimized sites will be available in select markets as well.

Neiman Marcus Group said Tuesday it's launched international shipping and payment options for online sales via a relationship with global e-commerce expansion platform FiftyOne Global Ecommerce. The move will allow Neiman Marcus, which has only a domestic brick-and-mortar presence, to expand its online reach to 100-plus countries. 

Online retailer and auction site eBay has decided to make a renewed foray into China, says a report by Financial Times. The retailer has decided to team with a Chinese partner in order to keep costs at a minimum and avoid domestic competition in the crowded Chinese market. The report says that eBay is signing a deal with xiu.com, a local retailer of luxury goods. eBay will import high-end luxury items to China, which is already a booming market for Western luxury goods. It's rumored that the partnership will be announced somewhere around Nov. 12. 

"We don't recognize our image reflected in these complaints," said Camilla Emilsson Falk, H&M's spokeperson to the Aftonbladet newspaper. "We also want the wages to be raised, and we're working hard to promote wages increasing in several countries, including Cambodia, among others." H&M CEO Karl-Johan Persson also defended the company's practices. "We are working with one of the world's leading experts on salaries in countries like Cambodia. We want the salaries to be raised," he told the Expressen newspaper.

Uniqlo, a division of Japan's Fast Retailing Co. Ltd, will launch its U.S. e-commerce site next week, a crucial part of its drive to earn $10 billion in overall North American sales by 2020, Bloomberg reported. "By opening this e-commerce site now, we are able to cater to customers across the United States," said Uniqlo USA CEO Shin Odake in the Bloomberg report.

Julie Hyman reports on J.Crew and retail expansion in Asia, with the apparel retailer's CEO Mickey Drexler offering his thoughts on the growth potential for the brand in China.

Far from a typical fashion house, our apparel spans a variety of categories including men's and women's clothing, accessories, children's apparel, even evening gowns for the red carpet. In total, we manage a portfolio of some of the best-known brands in fashion, including Perry Ellis, Original Penguin, Jantzen, Laundry by Shelli Segal, Nike Swim, Callaway and more. With 2,600 associates spanning 65 store locations and 30 offices worldwide, we rely on technology to stay connected.

Looks like China's economic slowdown has claimed another victim. Atlanta-based Home Depot said it will close its remaining seven big-box stores in the People's Republic. Home Depot Chairman and CEO Frank Blake put on a brave face for what could be seen as a failure of the world's largest home improvement retailer's efforts in the largest market in the world: "We've learned a great deal over the last six years in China, and our new approach leverages that experience and reflects our continuing interest in providing value to Chinese customers, as well as our shareholders."