Consumer Affairs & Relations

Atlanta - The Home Depot Inc. faces at least 44 lawsuits connected with a data breach that affected the retailer from April-September 2014. In a regulatory filing, the retailer said state and federal agencies are investigating the breach and more legal action is possible. The Home Depot also said ongoing breach-related investigation and litigation could affect operations and distract management, as well as incur additional unspecified costs and fines.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — The merchandising organization at Walmart is being transformed again following the departure of executive VP and chief merchandising officer Duncan Mac Naughton. His departure, in turn, served as the linchpin for several other high level moves.  

When was the last time you heard someone say, without a trace of irony, that a big-box store helped them get through the day?

Twenty-five years ago, Ray Oldenburg published “The Great Good Place: Cafes, Coffee Shops, Community Centers, Beauty Parlors, General Stores, Bars, Hangouts and How They Get You Through the Day.” Oldenburg, an urban sociologist, explained how certain stores were more than just places to shop.

Recent trends bode well for consumer spending    

Blue skies and cool breezes. That’s the economic forecast as the calendar turns for a new year.

Atlanta – The Home Depot Inc. faces at least 44 lawsuits connected with a data breach that affected the retailer from April-September 2014. In a regulatory filing, the retailer said state and federal agencies are investigating the breach and more legal action is possible.

DSW Inc. exceeded Wall Street expectations for net income and sales in the third quarter.

Net income fell a less than expected 10% to $49.5 million from $54.9 million the same quarter a year earlier, with higher operating expenses and lower pretax income contributing to the decline.

Sales totaled $670 million compared to $633 million in the prior-year quarter and same-store sales rose 2.6%.

DALLAS - The Container Store has long been lauded as one of the places to work—and now it looks like it’s also a great place to get married. The chain on Saturday celebrated the wedding of two 25+ year tenured employees—Greg Arechar and Lety Covarrubias—from its distribution Center,  at its headquarters. Co-founder and chairman emeritus Garrett Boone, an ordained officiant, led the ceremony.

By: David Kidd,  Peak 10
 
Data privacy and security remain top concerns for retailers. There is good reason for that.  The Target breach compromised approximately 70 million records. The Home Depot breach potentially impacted another 60 million consumers. As I write this article, reports are being made public about a breach involving the office supply retailer Staples. We can no longer deny that cybercrime is a real and growing threat to the retail sector.

New York – Ann Inc., the parent company of Ann Taylor and Loft, has named Katie J. Bayne to its board of directors. Bayne serves as senior VP, global sparkling brands at The Coca-Cola Company.

By Veena A. Iyer, Nilan Johnson Lewis