Management

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd said it had a range of measures to fight counterfeits on its websites — remarks that come after a trade group requested U.S. government help in prodding the Chinese e-commerce giant into action against fake goods.

New York's attorney general is scrutinizing 13 big retailers over their staffing practices and whether they require workers to show up or stay home with little notice. The office of New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman sent letters warning Target Corp., Gap Inc. and 11 others that it believes the chains are using on-call scheduling and that such practices may violate a New York law

There is more wage growth coming.  In its earnings report filed on Wednesday, home retailer Bed Bath & Beyond signaled that it will be raising wages. The company gave little detail about when it would raise wages, or what the magnitude of the increase would be, saying only that in 2015 it expects earnings will be impacted by, "an increase in investments in compensation and benefits in 2015 beyond those historically planned."

Mattel said it fired its ex-CEO, contradicting its press release in January in which it said he was resigning.

It's a big market opportunity with growing sales potential, but retailers can't seem to figure it out. The plus-size apparel market generated $17.5 billion in sales between May 2013 and April 2014, up 5 percent from the year prior, according to market research firm The NPD Group. But that figure likely under-represents the true opportunity of the demographic given that the average American woman is a size 14, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Ikea, almost as well known for its Swedish meatballs as its assemble-it-yourself furniture, is about to give its hungry but socially conscious shoppers a vegetarian option: veggie balls. More specifically, vegan veggie balls made with no animal products whatsoever. In a bid to appeal to millennials and those eager for more sustainable food options, the chain on Wednesday said it will add veggie balls to its menu at most U.S. restaurants beginning Thursday. A plate of 10 will sell for $4.49. Also, chicken balls will be sold at its restaurants beginning April 27.

Trayon Christian, 20, says he was hassled at Barneys because of his skin color. But the high-end clothing store says it did nothing wrong in calling the cops. Barneys did nothing wrong by allegedly calling the cops on a customer who claims he was just "shopping while black," new court papers argue. The high-end men's clothing store says in documents filed in Manhattan Federal Court that a shopper's suit should be dismissed because his civil rights weren't violated when he was detained by police after buying a $349 belt in 2013.

Jessica Simpson's fashion line hauls in about $1 billion in annual sales, an aberration in a retail landscape littered with dead celebrity brands. David Hasselhoff's Malibu Dave, Mandy Moore's Mblem, Heidi Montag's Heidiwood … the list of defunct fashion labels of the famous is endless. Yet Simpson's line has not only survived, it's grown over the past decade into a true lifestyle empire. How did she accomplish such a feat? According to the pop star, Simpson just knows what women want. 

Staples is trying to increase its appeal to women by embarking on a new initiative with the city of Boston. The retailer has pledged to work with Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh to make Boston the best city in the country for working women by signing on to "100 percent Talent: The Boston Women's Compact," an effort to end the gender-based wage gap and advance women in the workforce. "Staples values all of its female associates and understands the important role gender equality plays in fostering an inclusive workplace," said Regis Mulot, Staples’ executive vice president of human resources.

A day after RadioShack's narrow escape from liquidation in bankruptcy court, Soohyung Kim, the financier who led the contentious rescue, retreated to a back office to make a conference call with the chain's almost 2,700 workers, vendors and landlords. For many of those listening, it was their first direct real introduction to the chief architect of the retailer's unlikely reincarnation. "It's time for a new day," Mr. Kim said, his voice tense yet steady. "We're here today because we know this can work."