Consumer Affairs & Relations

SAN FRANCISCO — Williams-Sonoma has promoted Julie Whalen, SVP, acting CFO, has been appointed EVP, CFO.

Despite a stagnant economy and drought conditions across large parts of the country, Brentwood, Tenn.-based Tractor Supply Co. reported sales and earnings growth.

The company posted second-quarter sales of $1.29 billion, up 9.6% from $1.18 billion in the same quarter last year.

The nation’s largest chain of farm and ranch specialty stores posted earnings of $106.6 million, up 8.3% from $91.2 million in the year-ago period.

Shoppers aren’t stupid. With momentum gathering around e-fairness, it’s only a matter of time before the online giant is required to collect sales tax. And when shoppers get wind of the looming change, watch out!

Amazon.com’s sales will surge in the quarter before the e-fairness legislation kicks in and the retailer is required to collect sales tax on behalf of jurisdictions nationwide. It will mark the end of a golden era for shoppers who will rush to make purchases, especially big ticket items, in advance of the legislation’s effective date.

El Segundo, Calif. -- A Thursday report by Supermarket News said that Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market has eliminated as many as 40 positions at its corporate offices.

While the number of layoffs has not been confirmed, sources say it nears 40 jobs, mostly in real estate and store-opening support.
 

PLANO, Texas — When JCPenney first announced its “fair and square” pricing strategy back in January with a great deal of hoopla and fanfare -- complete with a NYC media event attended by 700 people -- there was much hope that former Apple executive CEO Ron Johnson and then president Michael Francis, formerly at Target, would be able to bring some of their retail magic to the stagnant retailer.

ST. LOUIS — Save-A-Lot is raising awareness for its stores as a destination for affordable food with the help of two contest winners. Molly Stankovsky and Alex Frecon, who won a national competition, will lead the retailer's "2012 Fuel Your Family Road Trip" across 18 cities in 30 days.

New Orleans -- New Orleans has rolled out the red carpet in order to assure the first Costco location in the state.

The city council on Thursday unanimously approved nearly $6 million in financial incentives for a planned Costco in the New Orleans suburb of Carrollton.  
 
The $45 million, 148,000-sq.-ft. Costco marks the warehouse club operator’s state debut, to reportedly be followed by a second in the capital city of Baton Rouge.

The New Orleans store is slated to open late summer 2013.
 

William Kenneth Butler, COO of the 1,985 unit Aaron’s rent-to-own retail chain, received a lifetime achievement award from the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations (APRO).

Butler was selected as the 2012 recipient of the Ernie Tally Lifetime Achievement Award for an exemplary career spanning nearly four decades.