Labor & Employment

Wounded retailers have a tendency to take irrational actions which means Walmart could have its hands full this holiday season as Best Buy is looking desperate and has a new CEO at the helm.

The nation’s leading closeout retailer offered a bleak outlook for the remainder of the year following worse than expected second quarter results and announced the departure of its top merchant.

Columbus, Ohio -- Big Lots reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended July 28 slipped to $22.1 million, from $35.7 million in the year-ago period.

Sales in the United States edged up 1.7% to $1.18 billion, from $1.16 billion, and domestic same-store sales decreased 1.9% for the quarter.

In Canada, the company recorded a loss for the quarter of $3.3 million, widened from its loss of $1.2 million last year.

NEW YORK — Aeropostale, a mall-based specialty retailer of casual and active apparel for young women and men, announced that Emilia Fabricant will be joining the company as EVP of the Aeropostale brand. Fabricant will be responsible for all aspects of design, merchandising and production for the brand, and will report to Thomas Johnson, CEO.

New York -- Aeropostale announced that Emilia Fabricant will join the company as executive VP of the Aeropostale brand. She will be responsible for all aspects of design, merchandising and production for the brand.

On Aug. 17, Fabricant resigned as president of Bebe Stores, Prior to then, she served as president and chief merchandising officer of Charlotte Russe.
 

DALLAS — Karen Katz, president and CEO of The Neiman Marcus Group, announced that Joseph Weber will be joining the company Sept. 4, as SVP, chief human resources officer.  Weber will be responsible for all areas of human resources and loss prevention including associate relations, learning and development, recruitment, compensation, internal communications and benefits.

Dallas -- Neiman Marcus Group said Tuesday it has named Joseph Weber as senior VP and chief human resources officer, effective Sept. 4.

Weber joins the retailer from Bank of America Corp., where he was most recently head of human resources EMEA, Latin America and Canada. 

STERLING, Va. — Former Walmart executive David Hoodis has joined the corporate advisory board of Natural Insight, a private retail technology company engaged in workforce management.

“We feel privileged to have access to David’s respected experience in workforce innovation. His success with numerous leading retailers brings us an added perspective that enables us to stay even further ahead of market need,” stated Stefan Midford, president and CEO of Natural Insight in making the announcement.