Consumer Affairs & Relations

Detroit -- According to Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan on Monday, the Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index rose to 82.6 in October, the highest level since September 2007.

Economists polled by Bloomberg projected 83 for the measure after a preliminary October reading of 83.1.

The Michigan index of consumer expectations six months from now, which more closely projects the direction of consumer spending, rose to 79 from 73.5 in September. The gauge of current conditions climbed to 88.1 from 85.7 a month ago.

Minneapolis -- Christopher & Banks Corp. said Monday it has named LuAnn Via president and CEO, effective Nov. 26.

Via, also named to the retailer’s board of directors, succeeds Joel Waller, who will remain in a consultative capacity through June 30, 2013.

Since July 2008, Via has served as president and CEO of Payless ShoeSource, a subsidiary of Collective Brands, which recently was acquired.

New York — The offices of Chain Store Age will be closed Monday evening and Tuesday due to Hurricane Sandy.

We hope that you, your friends and family will remain safe during this storm.

Katy, Texas -- After placing some restricted Houston Astros merchandise on the sales floors of several of its Houston stores, Academy Sports + Outdoors issued a formal apology to the Major League Baseball team and its fans.

"We express our apologies to Houston Astros fans, our partners at the Houston Astros ball club, along with Major League Baseball for inadvertently releasing the new Astros t-shirts in limited quantity," said Rodney Faldyn, Academy Sports + Outdoors president and CEO.

Washington, D.C. -- A Monday report by the Commerce Deptartment showed that consumer spending in the U.S. for September rose more than forecast as household incomes climbed.

Household purchases increased 0.8%, the most since February and topping the 0.6% gain expected by Bloomberg. The Sept. rise followed a 0.5% advance in August.

Incomes rose 0.4%, the most since March.

The economy expanded at a 2% annual pace in the third quarter, boosted by the uptick in household purchases.

New York -- Nearly half (49%) of retail CFOs expect their capital expenditures will increase in the next 12 months, a 19-point uptick that leads all industries, and 29% expect to consider additional financing for expenditures, also leading all industries. according to GE Capital’s latest semi-annual “U.S. Mid-Market CFO Survey.” (Retail respondents have revenues of $150 million and an employee count of 1,235, on average. Data comparisons are against the GE Capital Mid-Market’s CFO Survey executed in first quarter 2012.

New York -- Koala Kare Products, a division of Bobrick, and manufacturers of baby-changing stations and child-seating products, was featured in a segment on CNN entitled: “The battle over diapers in men’s rooms.”

“It is both amusing and important at the same time as the roles of moms and dads keep evolving,” stated Bonnie Yatkeman, marketing category manager at Koala Kare Products.

By Donald Landin

If you’ve ever slipped and fallen on a wet surface, you’re not alone. Each year, poorly maintained floors are responsible for more than 2 million customer and employee fall injuries, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The result: billions of dollars in medical, insurance and litigation costs for businesses.

By Sam Khalilieh

Study after study has concluded that adding doors to medium temperature coolers (MTC) is a great solution for a variety of issues that plague retailers. Whether looking at energy use, operational costs, product safety or consumer comfort, there is no downside to adding doors. So why do so many overlook this very basic approach?