The death toll from the factory building collapse in Bangladesh could reach as high as 1,400, with at least 900 workers still missing six days after Rana Plaza in Savar crumbled and the owners facing possible prison terms for not protecting the tenants or workers.

The Dhaka collapse is the deadliest to hit Bangladesh's garment industry—worth upwards of $20 billion—but little has changed since last November's Tazreen factory blaze that killed 112 workers despite public outcry and pledges to improve safety standards. 

However, the cumulative effect of such tragedies, which have been magnified through the power of social media and the internet, is forcing major Western retailers such as Britain's Primark, Canada's Loblaw and Spain's Mango to admit involvement and ultimately offer up aid or a solution.

But for every brand that steps up and admits fault, another places blame elsewhere or remains mum. Italy's Benetton acknowledged that their products were made in Rana, but claimed it was a "one-time order," while Walmart has maintained that its third-party supplier was not authorized to outsource manufacturing to the Bangladeshi factory.Continue reading...

Google turns in soft quarter as PR fail pummels stock.

HSBC hit by worldwide cyberattack.

McDonald's profit falls as U.S. growth slows.

Abbott study of kidney drug is halted.

Apple's iPad Mini poised to cannibalize sales.

Lance Armstrong endorsement implosion toll reaches $30 million.

BBC director general to testify on Jimmy Savile scandal, as new head of BBC Worldwide named.Continue reading...

Rocawear's first ever TV commercial features founder Jay-Z, above. In other celebrity brandcasting today, Burger King's new commercials feature Mary J. Blige, David Beckham, Jay Leno, and Salma Hayek promoting BK's 10 new menu items, its biggest menu expansion since 1954, which debuts today.Continue reading...

American Express is offering its Facebook fans and merchant partners a deal — the first of many — they can't resist.

"Link, Like, Love" is not only a new tab on its FB page, but the cornerstone of new deals-based social initiatives that AmEx is unveiling today.

More than 100 participating merchants are on-board at launch, include H&M, Whole Foods Market, Lord & Taylor, Celebrity Cruises, 20th Century Fox, and Outback Steakhouse.Continue reading...

New York City's retail giants traditionally try to outdo each other with their Christmas window displays, and this year shows a return to pre-recession form.

The Fifth Avenue storefront windows at Lord & Taylor's Manhattan flagship this season features 12 user-submitted unique holiday memories that were submitted on L&T's Facebook page.

The windows were unveiled in a kick-off event starring singer Kristin Chenoweth, above, that was live-streamed on lordandtaylor.com. Take a closer look at the windows after the jump.Continue reading...

Web couponing is a fast-growing phenomenon that is gathering momentum and data about consumers at an unprecedented rate, and to a somewhat alarming degree.

Internet coupons, and those accessed via mobile phones, have embedded bar codes that contain information such as your Facebook page, email address, and the search criteria that led to the coupon. Taking a byte of retailers' coupons is easier than ever thanks to the Web, but think of them as free cookies that lure you into a store—take a bite (or byte), and the crumbs can leave a long trail leading back to you.

E-coupon redemption grew to a $50 million business, a 236% increase, last year. And, in a development sure to alarm online privacy advocates, all that correlative data follows a shopper from the digital world to the mall.Continue reading...

Never heard of a raccoon dog? Well, you may be sitting near one on your next visit to the theater or your favorite posh restaurant. Apparently, some major retail brands used raccoon dog fur in their products and then mislabeled them. Yes, that fake fur just might be real.

The Humane Society has brought a lawsuit against retail stores such as Saks, Lord & Taylor, Macy’s, and Neiman Marcus, who wrongfully labeled raccoon dog fur as faux fur or imitation fur on retail items, trimmings, and jackets. A raccoon dog is a part of the canid species, which belongs to the family that includes foxes, wolves, and dogs. The Humane Society is outraged and has filed a lawsuit against the retail brands.Continue reading...