Consumer Affairs & Relations

The ranks of female retail CEOs is losing one of its highest-profile members.   Rosalind G. Brewer, 54, has told Walmart she plans to retire as executive VP, president and CEO of Sam’s Club, effective Feb. 1, 2017. She will be succeeded by company veteran John Furner, 42, who joined Walmart as an hourly associate in 1993, effective Feb. 1. The news was announced in a filing by the chain.  

The partnership between the U.S. Postal Service and Staples has come to an end.   The program started as a pilot in late 2013 and was eventually expanded to about 500 Staples locations. It effectively placed mini post-offices in the chain’s stores, with Staples’s non-union employees providing some of the same services that the Postal Service’s union employees performed.      

A few familiar retail names are reportedly in discussions to buy American Apparel.    Amazon and Forever 21 are among the companies in talks with the bankrupt manufacturing and retail company and its advisors about submitting offers ahead of a deadline on Friday, Reuters reported.  

Retailers and developers looking for potential expansion spots in the coming year should bypass Gotham and head to Grand Rapids.  

Walgreens Boots Alliance on Thursday reported a better-than-expected profit for its first quarter and also said an announcement that it has closed the deal on its proposed acquisition of Rite Aid would come soon.   Walgreens confirmed it is actively engaged in discussions with the Federal Trade Commission regarding its pending Rite Aid acquisition, which was announced more than 14 months ago. Also subject to FTC approval is the sale of 865 Rite Aid locations to Fred's for almost $1 billion.    

There is little doubt the public’s fear about safety has been heightened. In fact, the news these days is saturated with danger signals. Some people feel the threat of public spaces more acutely than others.

Having been trapped in a building two blocks from ground zero on 9/11, I myself have become hyperaware. I’ve devoted a lot of thought to how we can make shoppers feel more secure in the spaces we design so that they will be drawn to a store, be comfortable staying, and finally, lose themselves in the experience and want to return another day.

In the days and weeks since Election Day, much has been written about the impact results will have on store and restaurant operators. Other than some unease regarding trade and consumer confidence, entry-level employers generally feel optimistic about what might lie ahead with policy changes to taxes, wages and healthcare.

Most employers feel like they had a big “win” election night and in many cases, they may be right. But I think it’s a little early for employers to lace up their shoes for a collective victory lap around the boardroom.

Preparedness is key for mall owners, retailers

“Just wanting to make sure, No. 1, it is a safe environment; and No. 2, everyone knows it is a safe environment.”

That was the comment Mark Peterson made to a local news station in Rockford, Ill., regarding his top priorities after undergoing what could easily qualify as every mall manager’s biggest nightmare.

With some 2,975 team members in its 123 company-owned restaurants and support center, Fazoli’s, the nation’s largest fast-casual Italian restaurant chain, estimates 210 employees are directly impacted by the Department of Labor’s new overtime rules. CSA spoke with company president and CEO Carl Howard about the chain’s strategy regarding the regulations, which take effect on Dec. 1.

How do you think the new overtime rule will impact your workplace?

RILA looks ahead to what retailers can expect in the coming year

With the historic 2016 election behind us, there has been much speculation about what to expect from Washington in the coming year.

With consideration of a Republican-controlled Congress and President-elect Trump’s proposed policies, the Retail Industry Leaders Association has outlined below the key legislative and regulatory issues retailers should be aware of in 2017: