More shoppers are flocking to the Web for the holidays, boosting online retail sales 12% over a year ago. In five weeks ending Dec. 3, Americans spent $17.5 billion on retail items on the Web, up from $15.7 billion in the year-ago period, according to a new report from ComScore.
In a move targeted at online retail giant Amazon.com, Walmart.com on Thursday announced it's offering free shipping on nearly 60,000 gift items -- including popular toys and electronics -- through Dec. 20. Could the move start a free-shipping war?
Hulu is considering raising up to $300 million in an IPO next year to add more shows to its subscription service, Reuters reported Friday. Will that be enough capital to keep Hulu competitive with Netflix, as well as services from companies such as Apple, Amazon and Wal-Mart?
Wal-Mart Stores, the world's largest retailer, is ending its 39-year-old policy of automatic profit sharing for employees. It's replacing the bonuses with retirement benefits which could increase employees' total compensation, but employees are only eligible if they pay into their plans.
Target Corp. will open its first smaller, "urban" store in Seattle in 2012, marking attempts by the second-largest U.S. discount store chain to boost business by expanding beyond its largely suburban customer base.
Sam's Club and Superior Financial Group are testing an online program to offer loans of $5,000 to $25,000 to qualified members, Sam's Club said in a statement.
Wal-Mart is now offering Apple's base model 3GS iPhone at less than half price. But with the unveiling of the next-generation iPhone expected in just a couple of weeks, the discount retail giant is doing Apple a favor by helping it clear out its inventory of soon-to-be-outdated smartphones.
