Management

Miles Kimball Co. on Tuesday announced it's changed its name to Silver Star Brands in a move designed to better represent its expanding products and services. In a press release, company President Vicki Updike said management sought a new name that better represents the Oshkosh, Wis.-based catalog company's evolution into a "diversified brand management company offering a wide variety of products." Silver Star Brands will remain based in Oshkosh.

Brooks Brothers, the "Makers and Merchants" of fine American suits and ties since 1818, is turning its talents on another Yankee Doodle favorite — steak. The legendary apparel emporium plans to launch a huge steakhouse, branded "Makers and Merchants," at 11 E. 44th St., around the corner from its flagship store at 346 Madison Ave., sources told the New York Post. The beefery will take over the three levels that Brooks Brothers acquired from J. Press in 2008 and used for several years for its women's line. 

Terry Lundgren, CEO and chairman of Macy's, said last week that that his company has benefited from the troubles at J.C. Penney Co. — though not as much as he'd like. "Yes, I think it's helped, a little," Lundgren said. "Listen, I was up just a billion-two ($1.2 billion) last year. What was Penney's down? Four billion down. So we're not getting our share. But I think the customer there is trading down. That's what I think is happening." Lundgren said, speaking before a gathering of business reporters.

Japanese retailer Uniqlo will open 10 new U.S. stores over the next two months in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Northern California, and wants to expand with 20 more in 2014. But first, it needs to figure out Los Angeles. "Southern California is a very important market to us, and it's a priority market to us," said the company's COO. "We will think through the specific strategy for L.A., but right now, we're studying it. Do we open multiple stores right away versus have a flagship and wait a year to open up the suburban areas?"

Macy's is asking workers how early they might be willing to work on Thanksgiving Day, the Consumerist reports. While Macy's said it hasn't released Thanksgiving and Black Friday hours, the consumer blog says it received a tip from an anonymous Macy's employee at an undisclosed store who said the retailer plans to open at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. The employee said Macy's sent a poll asking whether workers would be willing to work an opening shift beginning at 7:30 p.m. on the holiday.

After more than 50 years in business, JC's 5 Star Outlet/J.C. Penney Outlet will be closing all 15 outlet stores in 14 states. "Going Out of Business" or "Total Inventory Blowout" sales will start Wednesday in each outlet store, offering consumers $70 million worth of name brand and private label products at significant discounts from the already low outlet prices of 25 percent to 75 percent off comparative retail. The outlet stores trace their roots to J.C. Penney's 1962 purchase of a Milwaukee mail order company, the General Merchandise Company.

Amazon.com, the world's largest e-commerce company, will hire 70,000 full-time seasonal workers in the U.S. to meet holiday order demand. The hiring plan represents a 40 percent increase on last year, the Seattle-based company said in a statement today. Amazon converted "thousands" of seasonal workers recruited in 2012 into regular full-time staff and expects to do the same this year, it said.

Sustainable products may well be yesterday's news — at least according to upscale sportswear brand Patagonia. The marketer of $500 goose-down jackets is reaching beyond its eco-friendly practices to address the link between environmental decline and economic growth. It's pushing businesses and politicians to figure out how to save the planet by curbing growth and producing fewer goods.

Federal authorities want to know where all that cheap wood at Lumber Liquidators comes from. On Thursday, the discount hardwood flooring retailer's headquarters in Toano, Va., and another location in Richmond, Va., were raided by special agents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations unit, together with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Justice Department. The agents were looking for evidence the company had imported wood products from forests in far eastern Russian that are home to the endangered Siberian tiger.

Abercrombie & Fitch has agreed to revise its "Look Policy," the strict dress code in place for its store employees, as part of a settlement in two religious discrimination cases. The teen retailer has updated its policies to specifically acknowledge that hijabs, or headscarves, can be accommodated in the workplace. In addition, Abercrombie will ensure that job applicants are informed not only of the Look Policy but that exceptions can be made if requested. The company will add information regarding headscarf accommodations into manager training sessions and institute quarterly reviews of religious accommodation requests.