Personnel

A Global Day of Giving at American Eagle
June 10, 2014

Roughly 1,300 American Eagle Outfitters employees are participating this year in the retailer's second annual AEO Better World Community Day. The operator of more than 1,000 stores throughout the U.S. and several international markets developed the community involvement initiative last year as a means to unite employees for a common cause to make a difference at the local level. The company designated Tuesday, June 10 as Better World Day.

Spanx Names Nike Exec Jan Singer as CEO
June 9, 2014

Jan Singer, who has held executive positions at athletic shoe and apparel makers Nike and Reebok, has been named CEO of Atlanta-based shapeware maker Spanx Inc. Singer will join Spanx early next month, the company said. She's been corporate vice president of global apparel and corporate vice president of global footwear for Nike. Singer also was vice president and general manager of Reebok's women's business. Spanx announced in February that CEO Laurie Ann Goldman would be leaving. The former Coca-Cola licensing executive joined the company as top executive in 2002.

Wal-Mart’s Giant Wage Lie: Why Big Retailers Can and Must Pay Their Workers More
June 6, 2014

You've probably heard that a stunning 95 percent of the gains the United States economy has made in the years since the Great Recession have gone to the top 1 percent. What you may not know — but which plays no small role in explaining that phenomenon — is that most of the jobs created in the same time period have been low-wage, service sector gigs (or McJobs, as some people call them). In fact, according to a 2012 study from the National Employment Law Project, McJobs make up 58 percent of employment growth we've seen during the recovery.

Wal-Mart Workers Plan Strikes
June 4, 2014

Wal-Mart workers and union organizers say they'll hold strikes in more than 20 cities Wednesday in their campaign to raise wages. The job actions are timed in conjunction with Wal-Mart's annual shareholder meeting, which takes place Friday in Fayetteville, Ark., near the company's Bentonville headquarters. OUR Wal-mart, a group backed by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, helped orchestrate a candlelight vigil Monday night outside the Phoenix home of Rob Walton, Wal-Mart's board chairman. 

Wal-Mart CEO Talks Amazon, 3-D Printing and the Future of Physical Retail
May 29, 2014

In one of his first public appearances as Wal-Mart's new CEO, Doug McMillon talked respectfully about its giant competitor Amazon.com, but explained why physical retail is here to stay. He also talked about how digital platforms and sales channels will become increasingly important to the retailer's business, including the need to improve its presence in digital media.

Abercrombie Tones Down Nightclub Vibe to Win Back Teens
May 23, 2014

After years of resisting pressure to ditch Abercrombie & Fitch's outdated strategy, Chief Executive Officer Mike Jeffries is relenting. Faulted by investors for a management style that alienated underlings and

L.L.Bean's CEO to Step Down in 2016
May 21, 2014

The first nonfamily member to lead L.L.Bean says he's planning to step down in 2016 after more than a decade as CEO. Chris McCormick, president and CEO, told employees in a memo that he's giving early notice so there can be a smooth transition. During his tenure, McCormick helped to transform the 102-year-old outdoors retailer from a catalog company into a multichannel retailer that does most of its business online. He's also sped up the opening of retail stores, with 19 stores now in operation and plans to open three more this year.

J.Crew's Jenna Lyons on Fashion, Lena Dunham and Why She's Not Posting on Instagram
May 21, 2014

Jenna Lyons and the J.Crew design team as well as CEO Mickey Drexler are in Hong Kong to celebrate the opening of the brand's first store in the city-state, the first in Asia to have free-standing J.Crew stores. Below, I talk to Jenna about J.Crew and fashion, Lena Dunham and her role on "Girls," and why she refuses to join the social media craze.

Wal-Mart Says it Won't Oppose Increase in Minimum Wage
May 16, 2014

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said it wouldn't oppose an increase in the federal minimum wage, its most explicit comment yet on the controversial debate to move past the $7.25-an-hour minimum. "We're not opposed to minimum wage increase, unless it's directed exclusively at us," said Wal-Mart U.S. President Bill Simon, referring to an attempt by the District of Columbia city council to require big retailers to pay starting wages that are higher than Washington's minimum wage.