Consumer Affairs & Relations

ELMWOOD PARK, N.J. — The Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) board of directors has announced Andrej Suskavcevic as new president and CEO of CHA. The appointment of Suskavcevic concludes an eight-month executive search during which Tony Lee, VP meetings and expositions, served as CHA's interim leader.

PLANO, Texas — JCPenney announced that Thomas Engibous will become chairman of its board of directors on Jan. 28.  Engibous was named to the board in 1999 and has served in presiding director and lead independent director roles since 2008.  He will assume the chairman's role from Myron Ullman, III, JCPenney's former chief executive officer, who will step down as executive chairman.

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.
 

BOSTON — Staples is working with Mass Mentoring Partnership, an organization that provides youth mentoring opportunities, to recruit adult mentors for approximately 3,000 youth in its home state of Massachusetts. In addition, the retailer is donating $25,000 to the cause.

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. 

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.
 

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. 

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.