Consumer Affairs & Relations

Just a few days after naming a new CEO, Target issued a preliminary update on its second-quarter expenses related, in part, to the December 2013 data breach.  

In a move to streamline and simplify Procter & Gamble’s business and brand portfolio, the company will trim its brand portfolio to focus on 70 to 80 of its largest and best-performing brands, A. G. Lafley, president and CEO, told analysts on Friday during its fourth quarter conference call.

In the next 12 to 24 months, P&G will “harvest, partner, discontinue or divest” 90 to 100 brands, whose sales have been declining 3% per year over the past three years. Profits have been declining 16%.

Seattle -- REI named Alex Thompson as the company's new VP of communications and public affairs.  

Thompson most recently served as executive VP of corporate and public affairs in the New York office of Edelman, a global communications and marketing firm.

At REI, Thompson will direct a broad portfolio that includes public relations, reputation management, corporate communications, philanthropy, community affairs and government relations. In addition, he will be actively involved with the co-op's board of directors.

While some retailers and brands are now conducting actual e-commerce from their Facebook pages, the “buy” button holds the potential to substantially increase Facebook’s potential as a platform for executing omnichannel transactions. Smart retailers will offer, and even encourage, buy online-pick-up-in-store functionality through the buy button. Many consumers prefer the immediacy of picking up an item in a nearby store to waiting for a delivery, and retailers benefit from the resulting increase in store traffic and secondary purchases.

Conn’s has appointed William E. Saunders Jr. to its board of directors. Saunders will also become a member of the audit committee and the nominating and corporate governance committee.

Denton, Texas – Sally Beauty Holdings Inc. reported its net earnings declined 7% to $67.76 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, from $72.47 million in the same period the prior year. Net sales grew 4.1% to $949.27 million, from $912.1 million.

Expenses associated with an executive management transition and a previously disclosed data security breach in March 2014 contributed to Sally Beauty’s fall in net earnings.

Retailers and suppliers who already operate in China or are looking to expand there may want to contact Kurt Salmon following several key hires by the consulting company.

The management consulting firm’s Retail and Consumer Products Group in China said it hired Hao Li and Ke Chen as partners.

Sunbury, Pa. – Net income at Weis Markets Inc. plummeted close to 47% during the second quarter of fiscal 2014, compared to the prior year period. Weis reported net income of $12.8 million, compared to $21.18 million a year earlier.

Weis cited company reinvestment and price discounting as driving the net income decline. Second quarter sales increased 4.5% to $691.9 million, from $662.1 million and same-store sales increased 2.9%.