Consumer Affairs & Relations

New York investment management firm Alden Global Capital is not happy with the board — or the CEO — of Pier I Imports.     Alden, the retailer’s largest active institutional investor, is demanding a shakeup of the Pier 1 board, reported the Dallas Business Journal.    

Bon-Ton Stores’ customers now have more opportunities to earn rewards.   The department store retailer, which originally rewarded shoppers for using the chain’s Your Rewards proprietary credit card, can now earn loyalty points for every purchase they make — regardless of how they pay.   

Specialty retailer Vera Bradley has raised an alert about a possible data breach.   The company said it is investigating a payment card breach that may have affected cards used at the retailer's stores between July 25, 2016 and Sept. 23, 2016. Hackers may have accessed customer data including card numbers, cardholder names, expiration dates and internal verification. Online transactions were not affected.  

Two senators have introduced legislation to change the Americans with Disabilities Act.      On Sept. 28, Senators Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) introduced a bill that contains a “notice and cure” provision that would create a temporary halt in ADA litigation for up to 120 days to allow property owners to correct identified barriers to access. (A similar bill was introduced in the House.)  

Driving innovation across Ralph Lauren’s channels has become a family affair.   David Lauren, the son of designer Ralph Lauren, was appointed vice chairman and chief innovation officer for the fashion brand.   Lauren’s new role coincides with the company’s “Way Forward” business plan designed to revive sales and reinstate the company’s “hip” reputation, Bloomberg reported.  

Online shoppers that prioritize convenience for security could begin feeling the fallout.  

Gordon Brothers Group has a new name.   The 113 year-old, global advisory, restructuring, and investment firm said that all of its operating units will now be marketing under one name: Gordon Brothers.  

Two major retail organizations delivered some early holiday cheer to retailers.   The National Retail Federation and the International Council of Shopping Centers issued their annual holiday forecasts on Tuesday, and both predicted holiday shoppers will spend more this year than they did last year.   

A couple from Georgia were charged with a complex scheme to defraud Staples of more than $1.4 million worth of product rebates and customer loyalty rewards.   The U.S. Attorney's Office in Massachusetts said John Douglas and an associate created more than 1,100 Staple rewards accounts using fake names, addresses and contact information, Masslive.com reported. His wife is accused of selling much of the fraudulently obtained Staples merchandise on eBay.  

Don’t believe the rumors. Kmart is not going out of business.   That’s according to Eddie Lampert, the beleaguered  CEO of Kmart parent company Sears Holdings Corp.