Consumer Affairs & Relations

Consumers’ expectations of retailers and suppliers have never been higher.

A law firm obtained a $1.35 million verdict for a victim after showing that Chipotle Mexican Grille was negligent in failing to repair a roof leak which, the firm said, ultimately lead to the victim's injuries.

Here is the story, according to a release by the West Palm Beach, Florida-based Steinger, Iscoe & Greene:

The store manager noticed the water pooling in the customer queuing area. He mopped and then verified the area was dry.

Atlanta-based Home Depot reported steady growth of transactions for its DIY and pro customers in third quarter 2015, leading the way to net sales of $21.8 billion, up 6.4% from the same quarter last year.

Net earnings for the world's largest home improvement retailer jumped 12.2% to $1.725 billion.

"During the quarter, we saw broad-based growth across our geographies and product categories, led by growth in transactions from both our DIY and pro customers," said Craig Menear, CEO and president.

On Oct. 23, America lost one of its greatest retailing entrepreneurs, Tom Stemberg, who invented the office superstore industry close to 30 years ago. Tom, a Boston resident was a grocery executive early in his career. He came up with the idea of a supermarket for office products after driving around looking for a typewriter ribbon. He then founded Staples, now a $22 billion worldwide company.

Bruce Dayton, the father of Minnesota's governor and a key figure, along with his four brothers, in building the massive retailing business that became Target Corp., has died. Dayton, 97 and the last of the brothers to die, also launched the B. Dalton bookstore chain in 1966, the Star Tribune reported. [Star Tribune]

Bloomingdale's is apologizing after critics said one of its holiday advertisements appeared to promote date rape. The luxury department store owned by Macy's Inc apologized for the 'inappropriate' eggnog advertisement on Tuesday. [Reuters]

Photo: left: Adam Zimel; right: Micah Kagan

Getting Dense

At NRF, we like to think of ourselves as the industry’s chief storyteller. As the nation’s largest private-sector employer, with 3.7 million retail establishments across the country employing close to 30 million people serving every community in the nation, retail has a lot of stories to tell.

Experts and regular folks alike are puzzled by the uproar over Starbucks’ holiday cup design, the Associated Press reported. Even New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan sounded a curious note, saying "I don't think it's like Starbucks had the Christmas crib on their cups to begin with.” [Associated Press]

Target's board of directors has added a former executive of the retailer's largest supplier.

The board announced it has elected Melanie Healey, former group president, North America, of the Procter & Gamble Company, as a new director, effective immediately.