Consumer Affairs & Relations

I think it’s exciting to watch retail going back downtown.
 
I remember shopping in big downtown department stores years ago, and I remember when the big retailers began their exodus to suburban malls leaving huge, sad-looking buildings behind.
 
But retail, as they say, follows rooftops, and the rooftops were springing up in suburbia and then further out in edge communities. Today, we all have a number of friends and acquaintances that commute for an hour or more in each direction every day.
 

By Jeff Weidauer, [email protected]

Yesterday’s release of disappointing sales and profits at Walmart was hardly unexpected, but it heightened concerns about the health of the consumer and sparked a broader market sell-off.

The National Retail Federation and the Retail Association of Nevada hosted Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., at a retail roundtable discussion. More than a dozen community retailers and small business owners gathered to address the industry’s challenges and public policy priorities.

By Stephen Springham, senior retail analyst Planet Retail
 
After the horror show of Q1, Walmart had so much to prove domestically in Q2. And it has again come up short. A U.S. comp store decline of 0.3% was below earlier management of a 0.2% decline, guidance that was endorsed as recently as the Annual Shareholder Meeting in June. This marks the second quarter that U.S. comps have been both in negative territory and below guidance. Those accusing Walmart of ‘crying wolf’ in its bullishness (ourselves included) may feel vindicated.

New York -- As turmoil continues to surround J.C. Penney, one investor is upping his support of the embattled retailer even as two other large investors leave. Regulatory filings on Wednesday revealed that billionaire investor George Soros has added two million shares to his current 19.98 million in Penney holdings.

The latest investment makes Soros Fund Management Penney’s second-largest investor, behind disgruntled hedge fund manager Bill Ackman.

Flu shots and nine other immunizations will now be offered year round by Sam’s Club pharmacists at more than 560 U.S. locations as the retailer looks to enhance member value and attract new members.

Beginning this month, Sam’s will begin offering flu shots and immunizations for diseases such as pneumonia, shingles, whooping cough, chickenpox, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), meningitis, HPV (human papillomavirus) and hepatitis A and B.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Kid Brands, Inc. has appointed Jodie Simon Friedman as the company’s VP, general counsel and corporate secretary. She replaces Marc Goldfarb, who resigned his position as general counsel and corporate secretary to pursue other opportunities. 

Goldfarb has agreed to remain available to the company as a consultant providing legal services.

As the turmoil with hedge fund manager Bill Ackman winds down at J.C. Penney, another of the company’s investors is making headlines. This time it’s George Soros, who according to regulatory filings, has added two million shares to his current 19.98 million in Penney holdings.

This latest venture makes Soros Fund Management Penney’s second-largest investor — behind Ackman.

HERSHEY, Pa. — The Hershey Company has appointed Mary Kay Haben to its board of directors. 

“Mary Kay is a seasoned leader who brings a great wealth of relevant food and confectionery experience to her role as a member of the Hershey board,” said James Nevels, chairman of the board of directors. “She is an accomplished executive with extensive experience managing businesses in the consumer packaged goods industry and has an impressive track record in growing brands and developing new products.”