Labor & Employment

Just a few days after naming a new CEO, Target issued a preliminary update on its second-quarter expenses related, in part, to the December 2013 data breach.  

Dallas – The global Electronic Shelf Labels (ESL) market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.03% during the period 2013-2018. According to a new report from Sandler Research, one of the key factors contributing to this market growth is the reduction in labor costs.

The global Electronic Shelf Labels market has also been witnessing the increasing demand for ESL by retail stores. However, Sandler Research advises the increasing competition among vendors could pose a challenge to the growth of this market.

Lafayette, La. - ARC Group Inc., owner, operator and franchisor of the Dick's Wings & Grill concept, has named Chris Perrella has joined the company as its director of marketing.

St. Louis -- Panera Bread Company announced that Roger Matthews, executive VP and CFO, has resigned his position to pursue other opportunities.

Effective Aug. 6, Bill Moreton, executive vice chairman of Panera Bread, will serve as interim CFO as the company conducts a search for a full-time replacement. Moreton has previously held the positions of CEO, co-chief executive officer and CFO of Panera Bread. Matthews will transition his remaining duties through the end of August.

Seattle -- REI named Alex Thompson as the company's new VP of communications and public affairs.  

Thompson most recently served as executive VP of corporate and public affairs in the New York office of Edelman, a global communications and marketing firm.

At REI, Thompson will direct a broad portfolio that includes public relations, reputation management, corporate communications, philanthropy, community affairs and government relations. In addition, he will be actively involved with the co-op's board of directors.

San Jose, Calif. – EBay Inc. has released its 2014 diversity report. The online auction retailer, whose global workforce is 58% male and global workforce is 61% white, says it has made improvements in workforce diversity but still has progress to make.

EBay’s global leadership is 72%, while its global technology wotkforce is 76% male. The non-tech workforce is much more gender-diverse, with a slight 51% male majority.

Denton, Texas – Sally Beauty Holdings Inc. reported its net earnings declined 7% to $67.76 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, from $72.47 million in the same period the prior year. Net sales grew 4.1% to $949.27 million, from $912.1 million.

Expenses associated with an executive management transition and a previously disclosed data security breach in March 2014 contributed to Sally Beauty’s fall in net earnings.

The Wet Seal named Christine Lee EVP and chief merchandising officer, as the retailer of young women’s apparel looks to regain its appeal with core shoppers and reverse several quarters’ worth of double-digit same-store sales declines.

Lee will join Wet Seal on September 3 and in her new role report to company CEO John Goodman. Lee previously served as SVP and general merchandise manager at Pacific Sunwear since 2010. Prior to Pac-Sun, she spent 18 years with Urban Outfitters where she began her career as a sales associate.