Labor & Employment

Columbus, Ohio -- DSW Inc. said Tuesday that its newest store, located in the State Street shopping district of downtown Chicago, is slated to open on May 10, bringing the shoe retailer’s total downtown Chicago store count to two and 17 in Chicagoland.

The new two-level store features 25,000 sq. ft. of space.
 

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — Charges related to store closures in the United States caused OfficeMax's first quarter net income to drop from $4.9 million, or 6 cents per diluted share, compared with $11.4 million, or 12 cents per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2011. Adjusting for these charges, net income for the quarter was $20.3 million, or 23 cents per diluted share, compared with $11.4 million, or 13 cents per diluted share for the same period last year.

New York -- As plus-size apparel retailer Avenue Stores emerges from bankruptcy under new ownership, it will do so with a much streamlined store presence.

Paul Halpern, chief investment officer of Versa Capital Management, which bought the chain out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February for $32 million, said the current store count of 415 to 420 will be reduced to about 300 to assure profitability.

SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif. — Weber Logistics, a third party logistics company in the Western United States, has named former Target human resources manager, Sheila Jordan, as its new VP human resources. Jordan will report to Weber’s CEO, Harry Drajpuch, and be responsible for all human resource-related activities, including hiring, training, associate development and administration, for employees across Weber’s 17 distribution centers and freight terminals.

Philadelphia -- Management consulting firm Hay Group reported Tuesday that employee turnover levels in the retail industry are on the rise.

According to a new survey from Hay Group, an improving job market and solid first quarter sales are impacting turnover. Retailers report a median turnover rate of 67% for part-time store workers, a 33% increase over 2011. One in five retailers report that they have experienced more turnover in the first part of 2012.

SOUTH DEERFIELD, Mass. — The Yankee Candle Company has announced that Gregory Hunt is resigning as EVP finance and CFO, effective as of May 15, 2012.  Hunt, who joined Yankee Candle in 2010, is leaving to join a leading New York based financial services firm.

The California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) this week filed a lawsuit against current and former Walmart executives stemming from the April 22 New York Times article, which chronicled the company’s alleged use of bribes to accelerate expansion in Mexico and efforts by top executives to quash an investigation when the situation was called to their attention.

SUNBURY, Pa. — Weis Markets experienced a jump in its net income and operating income during the first quarter ended March 31, the retailer said.