Consumer Affairs & Relations

Nordstrom is adding some financial expertise to its board with its latest appointment.

The Seattle-based retailer has appointed Gordon Smith, CEO of Consumer and Community Banking at JPMorgan Chase, to the company's board of directors. The addition of Smith brings the total number of directors to 15 and the number of independent directors to 12. Nordstrom directors serve one-year terms and the company requires annual elections of all Board members. Smith will join the Compensation and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committees.

Lowe's pointed to a favorable economy and improved productivity while reporting third-quarter results that beat expectations.

The company reported net earnings of $736 million for the quarter ended Oct. 30, up 25.8% from the same period a year ago. Sales for the quarter were up 5.0% to $14.4 billion.

Judging from the latest 2015 Temkin Loyalty Index, which measures consumer loyalty to large companies, shoppers are maniacal when it comes to their favorite grocery stores.

Based on a study of 10,000 U.S consumers, H-E-B, Publix and Trader Joe's were at the top of the list when it comes to consumer loyalty, bookended on either side by credit card and insurance company USAA.

Aldi and Hy-Vee also made the top 10 list of companies to which consumers are most loyal.

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.

Photo: left: Adam Zimel; right: Micah Kagan

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