Consumer Affairs & Relations

Seattle — Starbucks Corp. is reportedly considering changing its policy that forbids visible tattoos on baristas. According to CNNMoney, more than 21,000 employees have signed an online petition asking Starbucks to allow baristas in its stores to display visible, non-offensive tattoos.

Arlington, Va. - Nicholas Ahrens will join the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) as VP of privacy and cyber security. Joining the association from the Office of the General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Ahrens will lead RILA’s privacy and data security agenda and serve as the lead advocate to the government on cyber security, privacy, data security and related issues.

The Vitamin Shoppe’s CEO Tony Truesdale plans to retire June 27, 2015, to spend more time with his family and his external board work.  

The board will start searching for a new CEO, who will be charged with implementing the next stages of the company's long-term growth plans. It will be considering internal and external candidates.

Dodgeville, Wis. — Net income at Lands’ End Inc. grew 5% to $11.8 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 from $11.3 million in the same period a year earlier. Net sales also increased 5%, to $347.2 million from $329.6 million.

Same-store sales improved 2.8%. Lands’ End attributed its positive performance to improved merchandise assortment, modern creative presentation, better inventory management and continued expense controls.

Woonsocket, R.I. - Mary Langowski has been named executive VP for strategy, policy and market development for CVS Health, effective Oct. 14. In this role, Langowski will direct CVS Health's strategy and market development functions, with a focus on identifying and expanding enterprise opportunities to new markets.

Her portfolio will also include leading the company's government affairs and policy development teams at the state and federal level, providing strategic counsel.

Since Family Dollar’s board of directors unanimously rejected Dollar General’s second and sweetened tender offer from Sept. 2, Dollar General has decided to make the tender offer directly to the company’s shareholders.

The company’s all-cash offer of $80 per share beats Dollar Tree’s offer of $74.50 per share cash/stock offer originally made July 28. The Family Dollar board has rejected both Dollar General’s offers on the basis of antitrust regulatory considerations.

Vancouver – E-commerce company Elastic Path Software Inc. has secured $5.88 million in equity investments led by BDC Venture Capital IT Fund, with participation from Yaletown Venture Partners and individual investors. The company will use the funds to support development for its patent-pending enterprise commerce products.

Jacksonville, Fla. - Stein Mart is opening six new stores in fall 2014 as part of its 2014 store expansion plan that calls for  nine new locations, strategically selected in key growth markets, and seven relocations. The openings will bring the company's total nationwide store count to more than 270.