RETAIL/CONSUMER GOODS

In a bid to get a larger cut of the shrinking Australian consumer market, online department store CatchoftheDay rolled out on Wednesday it third e-commerce portal named Grocery Run. By its foray into grocery, the online seller challenges traditional supermarkets.

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. This idiomatic expression seems to be the labor policy of Amazon.com at its warehouse in Lehigh, Penn., if what workers there say is to be believed.

Lime Door Brands, the Australian company that manages Shane Warne's underwear brand has entered into voluntary liquidation.The company which is also behind the lingerie and dress line by burlesque star Dita Von Teese held a creditors' meeting yesterday but hasn't released a statement about the future of the company.

Federal Court Justice Peter Jacobson ruled on Tuesday in favor of Metcash's and Pick n Pay's planned purchase of supermarket chain Franklins for $250 million because the transaction would not violate the country's anti-trust laws.

Esprit has turned to the Chinese market to help increase its profitability and has embarked on a four-year investment program that will cost HK $18 billion.

As major Australian retailers absorb the ongoing crunch in the sector, players also point the blame on rent fees that further sap away the measly margin, if any, they were able to make.

More confirmation of the weakness of Australia's retail industry came out on Monday as investment firm Premier reported a 49 per cent drop in profit for its retail businesses.

A McDonald's drive through in Sydney suffered its second robbery within a span of one week.

Britain's largest online fashion retailer ASOS is set to lure Australian shoppers with a standalone website down under.

Australian retailer Myer is spending $9 million on a new website aimed at making the store the country's largest online department store. Myer targets to generate up to $40 million in annual sales from the new portal.

More than 3000 Qantas staff plan to stop work on Monday September 20. The planned industrial action is to take place in the morning peak period in most airports around Australia, which will last four hours.

Beijing municipal government will implement a policy requiring all companies to establish a labor union not only to attract new investments, but also to help labor workers receive higher wages.

Target.com's Website crashed on Tuesday morning following intense cyber interest created by its sale of Missoni items, an Italian fashion brand known for zigzag knits and bright patterns.

Australian gamers will have a reason to celebrate this season as Microsoft announced that it has slashed the price on its Xbox 360 and Kinect bundles by AU$50 in time for the Christmas season.

Coca-Cola Amatil has expressed plans to launch a legal action against the upcoming Northern Territory recycling initiative that would provide a $0.10 incentive for every plastic bottle returned to a beverage manufacturer.

On the eve of the Federal Government's October Tax Forum, new research from MYOB has found more than two thirds of Aussie business owners (71%) want the Business Activity Statement (BAS) simplified and three quarters (76%) want to have the GST rules reviewed and clarified; while over one third (33%) said that addressing these concerns would impact their voting intentions.

For six months after Fukushima nuclear power plant started leaking prompting an evacuation of 80,000 residents, a major part of northeast Tohoku region is almost deserted.

A report released on Tuesday by Deloitte Access Economics forecasts a bleak year for Australia's retail industry. The study said sharemarket volatility would likely result in the sector turning from bad to worse.

The Swatch Group has severed its cooperation contract with Tiffany & Co. for allegedly delaying the development of the business and the company is preparing to file a case seeking compensation for the loss of the planned future business.

In an act that could be classified as part of a larger global legal war between Apple and Samsung, a German court banned Korean firm Samsung from selling an iPad-like computer tablet in Germany, ruling it had emulated the iPad.

Coca Cola pursues alternative fuel vehicles through the launch of the latest e-trucks to reduce costs and promote a cleaner environment.

Target plans to open 50 small- sized stores called Urban by Target in next four years to increase sales.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said on Monday that it would observe closely the moves of supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths, particularly if the two would try to purchase Franklins or other independent grocers.

Weak signals emitted by the general condition in Australia’s retail industry did not prevent key players from achieving higher margins in fiscal year 2011 and the good news is, better quarters are ahead for the sector, according to a new study.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) appealed the Federal Court’sruling dismissing its application to prevent Metcash from acquiring the Franklins supermarket business, saying that the acquisition will erode competition .

Apple's popular iPad is a hot commodity with consumers but can they be used to make your business better?Here are 6 ways other companies have tailored the iPad to make a better customer experience and enhance their overall service.

Amidst the soaring threats of striking another global recession and skyrocketing prices in fuel, consumers in Indonesia manage to cultivate a growing penchant for cars, commodity gladly perceived prolific by Asia's largest car manufacturer, Toyota Motor Corporations.

AFTERNOON REPORT (4.30pm AEST)The local share market has finished the trading week on a positive note, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) adding 7.6pts or 0.2pct to 4277.4 and the S&P/ASX 200 Index (XJO) firmer by 6.7pts or 0.2pct to 4194.7.

The local share market closed marginally higher today, although off earlier gains due to a disappointing jobs report. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) gained 6.9pts or 0.2pct to close at 4269.8 after reaching a high of 4297.9 in early trade.