Consumer Affairs & Relations

New York -- Macy's, Limited Brands and Gap Inc. all posted August same-store sales that topped analysts' estimates as retailers across the board generally posted strong sales, boosted by back-to-school shopping and aggressive promotions. The strong showing comes shortly after the news that consumer confidence for August slumped to its lowest level of the year.

Everyone who is anyone will be on hand in New York next week for the nineteenth annual Goldman Sachs Global Retailing Conference so its not surprising that Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon will be in attendance.

Mike Kahn, director of Alpha Camera Systems for Sony Electronics was named special advisor to the board of PMA, the Worldwide Community of Imaging Associations.

The move is long overdue for an 86 year old organization focused on serving the needs of the imaging industry as Kahn’s appointment marks the first time a manufacturer representative was named to a PMA executive committee.

Believe in the brand and don’t take on too many partnerships is the advice Olympic gold medalist and long time Target partner Shaun White offered to fellow Olympians enjoying new found celebrity in the wake of the summer games.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart is bringing Americans some much-wanted relief at the pump this fall and winter with the return of its "Great Gas Rollback" program.

KENNEBUNK, Maine — Tom's of Maine, a maker of natural oral and personal care products, has partnered with TerraCycle, a recycling and upcycling company, to give a second life to product packaging with the launch of the Tom's of Maine Natural Care Brigade.

Schaumburg, Ill. -- Consumers focus on savings when they log in to their digital devices to shop for groceries, according to a new study from Nielsen. The top weekly U.S. activities related to grocery shopping on a connected device, ranging from a mobile phone to  tablet, included reading online grocery circulars (62%), looking for coupons online (55%) and browsing a manufacturer’s website for a grocery category (55%).
 

New York -- Ralph Lauren Corp. has appointed Christopher H. Peterson as SVP and CFO. He succeeds Tracey Travis, who resigned in July to join The Estee Lauder Cos. Inc.

Most recently, Peterson served as CFO of Proctor & Gamble Co.’s Global Household Care division.