Seasonal

Dallas -- A survey released Tuesday by Chase Paymentech, a subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase & Co., found that online companies are expecting the 2012 holiday shopping season to be better than last year.

According to the Chase Paymentech eHoliday Shopping Monitor, 59% of e-commerce companies surveyed expect better sales volume this season than in 2011, while almost half (47%) expect it to be better than pre-recession levels in 2007.

By Bruce M. Cross, [email protected]

In the holiday rush, it's easy to overlook wage-hour issues. This article discusses common ones to which retailers should be alerted, including: temporary workers and independent contractors; unpaid interns and trainees; “off-the-clock” work, meal and rest breaks; seating requirements; cost of uniforms; workplace safety; and overtime exemptions.

Temporary workers

Facebook investors are still a disgruntled lot, but Walmart couldn’t be happier with its experience with the social network.

NEW YORK — Banana Republic customers can't seem to get enough of the 'Mad Men' style, so the retailer is bringing back the collection for a third installment beginning March 1, 2013.

H&M is hoping to take some of the stigma out of matching family attire with a new line that promises to offer coordinated pieces without compromising individual style.

The retailer's "Fashion Family" collection will launch on Oct. 22 with chic items as textured jackets, skinny trousers and metallic minis for mom, party dresses and textured jackets for girls, suits, leather jackets and sweaters for dad, and long-sleeve tees, fedoras and sunglasses for boys.

LOS ANGELES — With the holiday shopping season approaching, one group has released a guide to goods produced domestically.

The Made in USA Foundation announced the latest edition of the "All-American Holiday Gift Guide," which shows readers how to buy American-made Christmas and Hannukah gifts, ornaments and cards, with sections on toys, jewelry, games and other items for men, women and children. Co-published with Made in USA Certified, the 115-page guide also includes food-related items, such as chocolates, blenders and stoves.

New York — Some Facebook investors may be feeling a bit disgruntled, but Walmart couldn’t be happier with its experience with the social network.

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys"R"Us has extended its free layaway program through Dec. 16. The program, announced in September, was originally slated to end on Oct. 31.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — ChannelAdvisor, a provider of cloud-based e-commerce solutions that enable retailers to increase global sales, has partnered with Kabbage Inc., an online provider of working capital for small businesses, to offer ChannelAdvisor customers direct access to a new source of funding in time for the 2012 holiday season.

PITTSBURGH — Dick's Sporting Goods has launched its first-ever winter coat trade-in event.

From Oct. 21 through Oct. 27, customers can donate their gently-worn winter coats at their local Dick's store. Donated coats will then be distributed in the United States to those in need through a partnership with World Vision.