Consumer Affairs & Relations

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart announced that it is helping customers prepare for tax season by offering low-cost tax preparation preparation services and free in-store federal Form 1040EZ filing. In addition, the retailer provides $3 and $6 check-cashing services. 

Minneapolis -- Christopher & Banks Corp. announced that its board of directors approved a change in the company’s fiscal year-end to the Saturday nearest to the end of January, rather than the Saturday nearest to the end of February.

The retailer said the change, which is effective for the company’s current fiscal year, will provide certain benefits, including aligning its reporting periods to be more consistent with that of other specialty retail companies.
 

Want to see what increased government regulation and its impact on business looks like? For a review of a new supply chain law in place in California and the reporting requirement it will impose on retailers, click here. 

Tulsa, Okla. -- Scott & Goble Architects said Friday that it has been renamed SGA Design Group, effective immediately.

The firm operates offices in Bentonville, Ark., Berkley, Calif., and Los Angeles, in addition to its Tulsa headquarters.

Clients include Walmart, Kohl’s, Lowe’s, Sports Authority and Hobby Lobby.
 

In October of 2007, the U.K. newspaper, the Observer, reported that child workers, some as young as 10, were discovered working in an Indian textile factory in slave-like conditions to produce clothes for Gap Kids.  

CHICAGO — Investment research firm Morningstar has named the outgoing CEO of Costco Wholesale as its 2011 CEO of the Year, the company said Wednesday.

Costco CEO Jim Sinegal, who retired on New Year's Day, received the recognition for what Morningstar called his "exemplary corporate stewardship, independent thinking" and creating "lasting value for shareholders."

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Thursday reported an approximate 150 basis-point negative impact on prescriptions filled based on prescription transfers, and other trend analysis of prescriptions managed by Express Scripts, as the chain posted its first monthly earning statement following the discontinuation of Walgreens relationship with Express Scripts. That represents an increase from a 110 basis-point impact in November, but falls short of the 200 basis-point impact projected by Credit Suisse research analyst Ed Kelly earlier this week.

NEW YORK — While the Liz Claiborne brand will be kept alive thanks to a recent deal with JCPenney, the company behind the name is headed in a new direction. Liz Claiborne Inc. announced it is changing its name to "Fifth & Pacific Companies" to better communicate its strategic focus on growing its three global lifestyle brands (Juicy Couture, Kate Spade and Lucky Brand). The change is expected to be effective on or about May 15, 2012 at which time the company will begin trading as Fifth & Pacific Companies Inc. (NYSE: FNP).

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — In what might become an additional indicator as to the power consumers can wield across retail through social media outlets, Wegmans on Wednesday reinstated Alec Baldwin as the company's spokesman.

Wegmans had pulled its Baldwin holiday advertising campaign in response to consumer complaints about Baldwin's behavior on an American Airlines flight Dec. 6, a flight from which he was removed for refusing to turn his cell phone off.

DALLAS — The first CEO of Sam's Club, Ronald Loveless, has been named vice chairman of U.S. Preventive Medicine. Loveless will serve alongside vice chairman Ron Loeppke, who joined the company in 2008 to direct product innovation, research and clinical standards at the company.

Loveless will play a key role in guiding the growth of U.S. Preventive Medicine in the United States, as well as international markets, the company stated.