Corporate Governance

Citing the cost and complexity associated the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, National Retail Federation affirmed its opposition to the health care law in a sharply worded letter to top elected officials.

In its latest effort to win more customers, e-commerce giant Amazon is going brick-and-mortar on campus.

The retailer has opened its first-ever staffed customer order pickup and drop-off location at Purdue University’s West Lafayette, Ind., campus. Purdue students now have a new convenient option for receiving textbooks and other college essentials, as well as a hassle-free way to return textbook rentals and other orders.

Selling toilet paper is a tricky proposition, but a clever campaign from Procter & Gamble looks to drive sales by leveraging the popularity of firefighters to engage with consumers via social media.

The Charmin Relief Project encourages consumers to nominate their local firehouses online or via social media for the chance to receive a year’s supply of toilet paper. Since firehouses serve as a home-away-from-home for many firefighters, Charmin wants to make sure these heroes are fully stocked with one of the most basic comforts of home: toilet paper.

Calgary, Canada – Shell Canada has signed a multi-year renewal with LoyaltyOne, the Canadian coalition loyalty business of Alliance Data Systems Corp., as a national sponsor of its Air Miles Reward Program. Shell Canada issues Air Miles reward miles for automotive fuel purchases made at its Shell-branded retail service locations across Canada.

Fort Worth, Texas – As the New York Stock Exchange delists trading of its shares, beleaguered consumer electronics retailer RadioShack Corp. reportedly has at least two suitors interested in buying some of its stores. According to Bloomberg, both Amazon.com Inc. and Sprint Corp. are in discussions with RadioShack about possibly acquiring some stores, with RadioShack shuttering whatever stores were left.

Wage and hour issues are ever present in the retail industry. Retailers are under constant pressure to control expenses, the largest component of which is labor. In 2015, local, state and federal officials are poised to take actions that will likely increase the cost of labor for retailers. Retailers must remain alert for these coming changes and begin planning for their impact long before their effective dates.

Los Angeles -- American shoppers feel they can’t trust retailers to protect their credit card and personal information either online or in brick-and-mortar stores.  According to a survey by Bizrate Insights, 62% of shoppers agreed that "Current security to protect credit card and personal information at a retailers’ brick-and-mortar stores isn’t strong enough.”

This was only marginally worse than concerns for security on websites (60% agree) but better that mobile transactions (65% agree).

Walgreens Boots Alliance has appointed Marco Pagni, formerly group legal counsel and chief administrative officer of Alliance Boots, as EVP and global chief legal and administrative officer, effective immediately.