Labor & Employment

FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. - The Wet Seal announced that Thomas R. Hillebrandt will assume the role of interim CFO, effective December 1, 2014, concurrent with the previously announced resignation of Steven H. Benrubi, the company’s current CFO.   Hillebrandt has served as VP and corporate controller at Wet Seal since September 2013.   

Omaha, Neb. – Gordmans Stores Inc. has named Lisa Evans as executive VP and chief merchandising officer effective Jan. 5, 2015. Evans was most recently the executive VP and brand leader for children’s apparel brand Carters, and previously was senior VP and general merchandising manager with Macy's.   Evans’ earlier experience included a variety of senior merchandising leadership roles with the Kaufmann's and Foley's divisions of the former May Company.

New York - Foot Locker Inc. reported net income of $120 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, a 13% gain from $104 million in the year-ago period.  Higher pretax income aided Foot Locker’s profit growth.   Total sales increased 6.7% to $1.73 million, compared with $1.62 million in the year-ago period. Same-store sales rose 6.9%.  

Coppell, Texas – Bankrupt retailer Alco Stores is going out of business, and closing its 198 stores, a victim of both the economy and the changing retail landscape.   

BATAVIA, Ill. - Deep-discount grocer Aldi is ramping up its U.S. expansion. The company plans to open 650 new stores across the country, including expanding to Southern California, bringing its total number of U.S. stores to nearly 2,000 by the end of 2018.   

Alco Stores is offering retailers a cautionary holiday tale this Christmas as going-out-of-business sales have begun at the regional discounter’s 198 locations.

By Phillip M. Perry New York  - Blue skies and cool breezes.  That’s the economic forecast as the calendar turns for a new year. Retailers looking to bolster revenues and profits over the next 12 months should benefit from a gradual improvement in the ability and willingness of shoppers to spend.   

Washington, D.C. - The National Retail Federation (NRF) supports immigration reform, but does not think President Obama’s executive action on immigration regulations is the right approach.   The NRF has issued a statement from president and CEO Matthew Shay on the announcement that President Obama will issue a series of executive actions on immigration: