Before Kanye West was rapping about fresh tees and khakis, he was folding them gingerly as a retail clerk at GAP.

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Other stocks in his retail basket include The Gap ( GPS), RadioShack ( RSH), Office Depot ( ODP) and Sears Holdings Corp. ( SHLD).

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Due to increasing competition in the U.S. retail apparel market, Gap Inc. is looking to expand internationally to sustain its growth.

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Encouraging retail data for early holiday shopping could help to close the gap should investors gain confidence in a resurgence of retail spending.

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Best-of-breed retail names on the order of Gap, Best Buy, Home Depot and Costco have been marked down big time.

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The Gap has lost more than just retail outlets over the years.

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An Ohio-based Gap employee said she learned all basic retail functions while working for the company.

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This is why Mr Jobs has opened 101 retail stores around the world, their locations hand-picked by a former Gap manager.

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