Consumer Affairs & Relations

WASHINGTON — A revised antitrust settlement on the issue of credit card swipe fees doesn't go far enough, The National Retail Federation said Friday. 

Richmond, Va. -- Poll results released Monday by hourly employment network Snagajob found that most hourly employers are not waiting until after Election Day to make business decisions. The survey found that more than half of hourly employers (55%) cited potential healthcare requirements as the key presidential election issue most likely to affect their business. Possible economic stimulus plans (25%) and tax code changes (14%) were among other concerns weighing on hourly employers.

CLEVELAND — Greeting card maker American Greetings announced last week that its board has formed a committee of independent directors to consider an offer to privatize the company, reported the Associated Press.

According to AP, CEO Zev Weiss and his brother, president and COO Jeffrey Weiss, along with other investors and executives, submitted a proposal to the board on Sept. 25. The group wants to buy all of the company's common stock that it doesn't already own for $17.18 per share, valuing American Greetings at approximately $581 million.

LOS ANGELES — With the holiday shopping season approaching, one group has released a guide to goods produced domestically.

The Made in USA Foundation announced the latest edition of the "All-American Holiday Gift Guide," which shows readers how to buy American-made Christmas and Hannukah gifts, ornaments and cards, with sections on toys, jewelry, games and other items for men, women and children. Co-published with Made in USA Certified, the 115-page guide also includes food-related items, such as chocolates, blenders and stoves.

Dirty stores and out of stocks negatively impact the food shopping experience, according to a study by The Retail Feedback Group which showed overall satisfaction with supermarkets at a five year high.

The Retail Feedback Group surveyed 1,200 shoppers in its 2012 U.S. Supermarket Experience Study and determined that supermarkets generate high rates of satisfaction with their shoppers, scoring a 4.47 out of a possible 5.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens on Thursday announced the appointment of Brad Fluegel as senior VP and chief strategy officer. Fluegel will be responsible for corporate strategy, business development, project management and the corporate consulting team while also working on venture capital efforts.

Fluegel joined Walgreens after previously serving as executive in residence at Health Evolution Partners. Before that he was EVP and chief strategy and external affairs officer of Wellpoint, a large health benefits company.

NEW YORK -- Nordstrom has joined such other Washington-based retailers as Starbucks Coffee Company and Amazon.com in coming out in support of  approving Referendum 74, a Washington state ballot measure that seeks to affirm same-sex marriage with voters. (In July, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and his wife, MacKenzie, pledged $2.5 million in support of the measure.)
 

Austin, Texas -- Whole Foods Market has announced two new locations for Manhattan. The company said it plans to open a 39,000-sq.ft. store in the city’s Harlem neighborhood in 2015. The supermarket will be located in the middle of the area’s business district, on 125th Street and Lennox Avenue.