Labor & Employment

The TJX Cos. Inc. announced Wednesday that Chairman Bernard Cammarata will retire following the company’s annual shareholder meeting scheduled for June 11.

Suppliers to Walmart are always looking for ways to align themselves with the retailer and develop strategies that drive sales. Nothing could be more instructive on that front than 2015 version of a Global Responsibility Report, which reveals the company’s extensive social and environmental commitments and accomplishments.

The eighth annual edition of the document was released this week in conjunction with other material related to the company June 5 shareholders meeting.

Walmart increased hourly pay for employees earlier this year but top executives didn’t earn as much as they could have after the company came up short on key metrics.

Amazon.com’s sales growth in the first quarter continued to outpace the overall e-commerce growth rate, especially Web services, but expenses related to interest and currency exchange caused the online leader to report a $57 million net loss.

Total sales for the quarter ended March 31 increased 15% to $22.72 billion but a strengthening of the U.S. Dollar caused a $1.3 billion currency exchange headwind. On a constant currency basis, which is how global retailers like to analyze their business, sales increased 22%.

Framingham, Mass. – Bernard Cammarata, 75, founder and chairman of The TJX Companies Inc., will retire June 11, 2015 after nearly 40 years with the company. Carol Meyrowitz, 61, who has served as CEO of TJX since January 2007, been a board director since 2006 and joined the company in 1983, will succeed him as chairman.

Major retailers, trade groups and politicians sounded a euphoric and bipartisan tone last week following the introduction of trade legislation with potentially huge implications for the retail industry and the U.S. economy.

Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores Inc., which had disappointing financial results in its last quarter, said CEO W. Bruce Johnson will leave the company Aug. 1.

The company also announced that the board of directors has commenced a search for a new CEO and has retained Heidrick & Struggles, a leading global executive search firm, to assist the Board in identifying and evaluating external and internal candidates.

Carbondale, Colo. -- Casey Sheahan, former CEO of Patagonia, has joined FastG8, a digital media company focused on driving e-commerce for brands in the outdoor and active lifestyle marketplaces.

Also joining the form is Zohar Ziv, who retired from Deckers Outdoor Corporation in January, where he most recently held the title of COO. He has also served as CFO for Deckers.

New York -- Simply Fashion Stores Ltd. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and announced plans to liquidate nearly all of its assets. In its filing, it noted that the “exact plan” for the future of the company is still being refined.

The Birmingham, Alabama-based urban fashion retailer, which caters mostly to African-American women, operates some 250 stores in 25 states.

Irvine, Calif. -- Tilly’s announced today that CFO Jennifer Ehrhardt intends to resign from Tilly’s to relocate closer to her family and pursue other professional interests. She will continue to serve in the role for an interim period expected to end in June 2015, and will help with the transition process.