International Business

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores on Wednesday launched initiatives intended, it says, to help women around the globe in the next five years.

The retailer has spent the last year developing a plan -- with help from both governmental and non-governmental organizations and philanthropic groups -- which will direct $20 billion over a five- year period on goods and services from U.S. businesses owned by women, as well as double the amount it pays women-run suppliers overseas.

Greensboro, N.C. -- Apparel giant VP Corp. announced that it has completed its previously-announced acquisition of The Timberland Company in a deal valued at $2.3 billion.

Timberland will become part of VF's Outdoor & Action Sports Coalition, which includes The North Face. The formerly family-held company will remain headquartered in Stratham, N.H.

Philadelphia -- Destination Maternity Corp. announced the opening of two namesake stores and two shop-in-shops in South Korea.

The freestanding locations, in the cities of Koyang and DaeJeon, are the chain’s first stores in South Korea and were opened by partner Agabang & Co.

NEW YORK — The Jones Group announced that Marchon Eyewear will be exclusive provider of ophthalmic eyewear frames and prescription-ready sunglasses for distribution under the Nine West brand.  

Under the agreement, the Nine West ophthalmic eyewear collection will be marketed and sold globally in upscale optical chains and optical specialty retailers and by individual eye care professionals beginning in early January 2012, The Jones Group reported.  

Corte Madera, Calif. -- Restoration Hardware Holdings filed plans to return to the public stock market. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said it intends to offer up to $150 million in common shares to repay debt and for general corporate purposes.

ATLANTA — Canada's importance to the retail industry continues to grow, made evident by the recent news that Office Depot has engaged ShopVisible, a leading provider of on-demand e-commerce, social commerce, and mobile commerce solutions, to launch the retailer’s new Canadian-facing e-commerce site.

New York City -- British apparel retailer Acadia Group opened its second Topshop/Topman location in the United States, a three-level store on Chicago’s North Michigan Avenue. The space, which boasts some 35,000 sq. ft. of selling space, was previously was occupied by a Borders store.

Topshop will debut its third U.S. location, in Las Vegas, in March 2012.

New York City -- Aldi is close to making a deal to open its first supermarket in Manhattan, Craine’s New York reported.

The German discount grocer opened its first store in New York City, in Queens, last year. According to Craine’s, Aldi is set to lease space at East River Plaza, located between 116th St. and 119 St. in Harlem. The shopper center already boasts such tenants as Target, Best Buy and the city’s first Costco.