International Business

NEW YORK — Teen retailer Aeropostale announced that it is expanded its reach to international consumers. Through a partnership with FiftyOne Global Ecommerce, consumers in more than 90 countries worldwide can now purchase directly from Aeropostale.com.

NEW YORK — Walmart took the next step in its goal to help build women's economic empowerment by announcing the launch of a dedicated page on Walmart.com that will feature an assortment of products created by women in nearly two dozen countries, including women who work in cooperatives and own small businesses. The site, which the company expects to be available in spring 2012, will feature such products as jewelry from Guatemala, Thailand and Ethiopia; coffee from Central and South America; and dresses from Kenya.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Gap Inc. announced that its Personal Advancement and Career Enhancement program was recognized by former President Bill Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative, held in New York City.  Bob Fisher, son of Gap Inc. founders Doris and Don Fisher and a Gap Inc. board member, accepted the honor on behalf of the company.

The Network of Executive Women held its 10th annual leadership summit earlier this week in Orlando, and Walmart’s International CFO Cathy Smith was listed as a featured speaker. Nothing unusual about that, but what made Smith’s appearance unique is that rather than read a canned speech written by someone else, she engaged in a candid conversation with Jan Hill, founder of Hill Enterprises.

New York City -- Walmart plans to launch a dedicated page on Walmart.com that will feature an assortment of products created by women in nearly two dozen countries, including women who work in cooperatives and own small businesses. Scheduled to be available in spring 2012, products will include jewelry from Guatemala, Thailand and Ethiopia; coffee from Central and South America; and dresses from Kenya.

New York City -- Aeropostale has launched international shipping, and consumers in more than 90 countries worldwide can now purchase directly from Aeropostale.com, The site’s international expansion is being powered by FiftyOne Global Ecommerce.

Memphis -- AutoZone reported Tuesday that profit for the quarter ended Aug. 27 rose 12% to $301.5 million, compared with $268.9 million in the year-ago period.

Sales rose 8.1% to $2.64 billion from $2.45 billion, topping Wall Street expectations of $2.61 billion in sales. Same-store sales in the U.S. rose 4.5%.

During the quarter, AutoZone opened 68 new stores, replaced five stores, and closed one store in the United States and opened 18 new stores in Mexico.

Lexington, Mass. -- Collective Brands’ Performance + Lifestyle Group, which owns Sperry Top-Sider, Keds and Stride Rite, has signed new distribution agreements with partners to ramp up international expansion in several markets, including Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Spain.

Indianapolis -- Shopping center owner Simon Property Group said Tuesday that it has again been recognized by the Carbon Disclosure Project with inclusion in its Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index.

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation has launched a year-long advocacy campaign to advance a “Jobs, Innovation and Consumer Value Agenda” on behalf of the U.S. retail industry.