Corporate Governance

Minneapolis -- Target Corp. launched an enhanced return policy covering all of the retailer’s 32 owned and exclusive brands, which extends the return window to one year from the date of purchase.

The retailer also rolled out a one-year return guarantee for guests using Target’s baby, college or wedding gift registry.

Amid a fast-changing industry in which retailers seek to harmonize their online and physical stores, the largest retailer in the world has announced the date of its annual shareholders meeting.

Wal-Mart Stores announced the meeting will be held on June 5 at 7 a.m. CDT in the Bud Walton Arena at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark.

The meeting will be webcast on the company’s website at http://stock.walmart.com. The company also announced that April 10 is the record date for that meeting.

A shift toward online sales is one reason why J. Crew Group Inc. says it lost $30.6 million in the fourth quarter.

The retailer has been dealing with traffic problems at its namesake stores as more of its customers migrate to the J. Crew website, the company says. 

Philadelphia -- Shopping center owner PREIT said that it will add several key – and some first-to-market – tenants to several of its upscale malls.  

At Cherry Hill (New Jersey) Mall, new tenants include lululemon athletica, Tumi, and e.l.f. studio; Primark will open in 2016 at Willow Grove (Pennsylvania) Park; and Garage will open at Woodland Mall, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Whole Foods Market is trying to increase its share of the explosive growth in the beauty industry by hosting its first ever “Beauty Week.” 

Los Angeles -- American Express is preparing to launch a customer loyalty program in the U.S. that will enable shoppers at select retailers to rack up points that they can use toward future purchases at Macy's, Exxon Mobil, AT&T and other participating companies.

The free program, set to debut in May, is dubbed Plenti and will also include Nationwide, Rite Aid, Direct Energy and Hulu, American Express said Wednesday.

Shoe Carnival credited “favorable weather” with its impressive spike in same store sales in the fourth quarter.

The Indiana-based retailer of moderately priced footwear and accessories reported that net sales in the fourth quarter ended Jan. 31 increased $27.3 million to $227.6 million, compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013. Same store sales increased 9.5%, which exceeded the company’s guidance for the quarter. Earnings per diluted share were 15 cents.

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation on Wednesday presented Congress with what it termed “practical, commonsense and achievable solutions” to better protect consumers and help businesses prevent cyberattacks and data breaches, including passage of a uniform nationwide breach notification law applying to all entities that handle sensitive customer information.