Labor & Employment

Lackluster traffic at its Golf Galaxy stores led Dick’s Sporting Goods to report a lackluster profit in the first quarter.

New York – U.S. consumers are continuing to show moderate signs of the optimism Americans are so famous for. According to the Nielsen consumer confidence index, U.S. consumer confidence increased one index point in the first quarter of 2015 to a score of 107, maintaining an above-the-baseline (100) optimism level for one year.

Washington, D.C. - The Obama Administration’s plan to revise federal overtime regulations would likely “hollow out” low- and mid-level management positions in the restaurant and retail industries and result in a shift toward more hourly and part-time workers, according to a new National Retail Federation (NRF) report. The report, "Rethinking Overtime," found that the proposal could cost retailers millions of dollars in added costs and would disproportionally impact retailers operating in rural states.

Kohl’s is preparing to open a store in Southern New Jersey called "Off Aisle by Kohl's," a name that suggests the company may be following the lead of other retailers opening off-price formats.

It is not readily apparent what the assortment or pricing will be at the new offering from Kohl's. Multiple attempts to reach representatives at Kohl's were unsuccessful.

Photo: Dov Charney

Los Angeles – In the latest set of dueling lawsuits to hit a major retailer, American Apparel is suing its founder and ousted CEO Dov Charney for violating a standstill agreement with the company. Standstill agreements typically limit the amount of stock in a company a party can buy during a certain period of time.

Atlanta - Honey Baked Ham is consolidating three regionalized operating divisions, currently based in Georgia, Michigan and Ohio, and has also named two new top executives. The combined organization, The Honey Baked Ham Company LLC, will be headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia and will serve customers online and at more than 400 stores in 40 states across the U.S.

Photo: Jonathan Parks

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has signed a 42,000-sq.-ft. lease to open a Neighborhood Market at Nor-Dan Shopping Center in Danville, Virginia. The store is planned to open in 2016 and will employ approximately 95 people.

Nor-Dan Shopping Center is a 161,428-sq.-ft. community center anchored by Big Lots and It's Fashion Metro, operated by Phillips Edison & Co.