Consumer Affairs & Relations

Kohl’s has joined other major retailers this week reporting disappointing earnings and anemic same store sales growth.

The Wisconsin-based retailer posted a profit of $130 million in the second quarter ended Aug. 1, below the $232 million in the prior-year quarter. Earnings per share were 66 cents, compared with $1.13 in the second quarter of 2014. Same store sales grew a measly 0.1%. Overall revenue increased by just 0.6%, to $4.27 billion for the quarter.

Little Rock, Ark. -- Dillard’s Inc. profit declined 13.3% in the second quarter, but it still came in better than analysts had expected.

Growth in shoes and some apparel categories helped Dillard’s post a feeble second quarter same-store sale increase, but it was too little for the department store retailer to avoid the sharp decline in profitability. The retailer’s profit for the quarter ending Aug. 1 was $29.9 million, down from $34.5 million in the year-ago period.

New York -- A strong majority of Americans (72%) - crossing regional, political, generational, gender and income lines – believe the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour is lower than it should be. However, while Americans clearly feel minimum wage should be higher, exactly how high remains a more contentious subject.

New York -- Two retail and consumer product goods veterans have joined Target's board of directors.

The company announced Wednesday that its board of directors elected Donald R. Knauss, former executive chairman and former chairman and CEO of the Clorox Company, and Robert L. Edwards, former CEO of Safeway Inc., as new directors, effective immediately.


New York -- Macy’s CEO and chairman Terry Lundgren is talking about why the department store giant decided to stop carrying Donald Trump’s menswear collection.

In a report on CNBC, Lundgren said the decision was a business one.

Two retail and consumer product goods veterans are the newest members of Target's board of directors.

The turnaround at Gap Inc. is still struggling to get off the ground, if the retailers' latest round of financial results are any indication.

Gap reported that net sales for the four-week period ended Aug. 1 were $1.12 billion compared with net sales of $1.17 billion for the four-week period ended Aug. 2, 2014. For the second quarter of fiscal 2015, Gap Inc.’s net sales decreased 2% to $3.90 billion compared with $3.98 billion for the second quarter last year.

Lost jobs, ugly architecture, picky consumers and stiff competition are among the reasons why Costco may have a tough time achieving success in France, according to a Seattle Times report.

The newspaper says the Washington-based retailer is building its first warehouse in France and envisions opening as many as 15 stores in that nation over the next 10 years. But whether Costco will succeed in attracting the French consumer is an important question.

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