Legal

How to Avoid SMS Campaign Compliance Violations
February 14, 2023 at 1:25 pm

Papa Bear violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and is now embroiled in a class-action lawsuit. Build-A-Bear-Workshop, a chain retailer that enables buyers to adorn their stuffed animal with accessories of their choice, allegedly sent multiple text messages to consumers whose numbers are listed on the National Do-Not-Call Registry. Bad bear. Perhaps Papa Bear…

Nike Sues lululemon, Claiming Infringement on Shoe Design
February 1, 2023 at 3:12 pm

Nike is accusing the yoga lifestyle and apparel brand lululemon of infringing upon some of its shoe designs, according to a lawsuit filed Monday in New York's U.S. District Court. Canada-based lululemon launched its first footwear collection in March 2022, with women's shoes available first and men's shoes debuting in 2023, according to a press…

Mattress Company Serta Simmons Files for Bankruptcy
January 25, 2023 at 4:01 pm

Serta Simmons Bedding, the Georgia-based mattress company, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday, saying the move is an attempt, in part, to reduce the company's debt. The company, owned by private equity firm Advent International, said it's "operating as normal" — it earmarked $125 million in financing to keep operating — and the restructuring…

Party City Files for Chapter 11, Plans to Restructure Debt
January 18, 2023 at 4:57 pm

Party City has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a bid to restructure its heavy debt load and keep its doors open after supply chain woes, rising inflation and a consumer slowdown took a chunk out of sales, reports CNBC. The party supplies retailer has secured a $150 million bankruptcy loan and will seek approval to use…

New Buy Now, Pay Later Regulations Are Good for Retailers
January 10, 2023 at 6:32 pm

The topic of consumer protection in buy now, pay later (BNPL) has been heating up as regulators around the globe are turning their attention to the industry. The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) recently announced plan to regulate legacy BNPL lenders like they do credit card companies is good news for consumers. But hidden…

Amazon, EU Reach Settlement Over Marketplace Seller Data
December 21, 2022 at 6:29 pm

In a settlement with the European Union, Amazon.com on Tuesday agreed to make changes to how it does business, promising to address allegations that it was using independent sellers' data to its advantage. The European Commission, the E.U.'s executive arm, said in a news release on Tuesday that Amazon would stop using nonpublic information it gathers…

Judge Orders Amazon to Stop Retaliating Against Union Organizers
November 22, 2022 at 6:12 pm

A federal judge has ordered Amazon.com to stop retaliating against employees engaged in workplace activism, issuing a mixed ruling that also hands a loss to the federal labor agency that sued the company earlier this year. The ruling came in a court case brought by the National Labor Relations Board, which sued Amazon in March seeking the…

NRF: Congress Must Take Action to Avert Catastrophic Rail Strike
November 21, 2022 at 6:42 pm

National Retail Federation (NRF) President and CEO Matthew Shay said a nationwide rail strike during the peak holiday season will be “devastating” for American businesses, consumers and the U.S. economy — particularly amid today’s increased prices due to persistent inflation. Shay's statement was made yesterday when members of the nation’s largest rail union rejected a contract…

Senators Call for Antitrust Panel to Evaluate Kroger-Albertsons Merger
October 20, 2022 at 4:56 pm

The proposed $25 billion Kroger-Albertsons merger is already running into significant opposition from progressive lawmakers and others, according to CNN. A Senate antitrust panel will hold a hearing next month on the Kroger-Albertsons merger focused on how the deal could impact competition in the grocery industry. This comes after several senators raised concerns and called on…

Privacy and Cybersecurity for Retailers in the Metaverse
October 20, 2022 at 10:41 am

Imagine a customer walking into a clothing store. She browses the racks, selects a few items, and asks the sales associate for a dressing room. She walks to the dressing room and tries on the clothes. Then she heads to the counter, pays for some of the items, and leaves. We take for granted —…