Content about Politics

Chicago -- General economic conditions and federal, state and/or local regulations rank as the top two risks facing the retail industry, according to a new report by BDO USA. The report, an analysis of the risk factors listed in the most recent 10-K filings of the largest 100 public U.S. retailers, found that federal, state and local regulations have increased as a risk among the nation’s largest retailers.

Boston -- The administration of Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has agreed to allow the construction of a 4.5-acre complex called Fenway Center in the area around Fenway Park in the city’s Back Bay neighborhood. Developer John Rosenthal will pay $226 million in rental fees to build the development, which will include retail stores as well as homes and office buildings.

The development includes state-owned land as well as air rights over the Massachusetts Turnpike.

Invest in the right experience for a shopping center's customers, and you will earn a return on experience. That is the business model driving Fort Worth, Texas-based Trademark Property Co., which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

"Do customers love being at the center? Do they come back and drive sales? That is return on experience," said Terry Montesi, Trademark chairman, CEO and founder. Experience is indispensable today when most goods and services are available online, often at a lower price.

By Douglas H. Meal, David T. Cohen, and Lisa L. Rachlin, Ropes & Gray LLP

Retailers, like all businesses, constantly seek to learn more about their customers in order to serve them better. In Tyler v. Michaels Stores, however, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently ruled that a simple step taken by many retailers to help achieve this goal – collecting the ZIP codes of their customers at the point of sale – can in some circumstances violate Massachusetts’ consumer protection statute.
   

By Garrick Brown, research director, Terranomics

Columbus, Ohio -- Discount retailer Big Lots has named David Campisi, 57, as CEO and president of Big Lots, effective May 6. The 30-year-industry veteran most recently served as chairman and CEO of Respect Your Universe, a publicly traded company focused on premium performance apparel and equipment. Prior to that, he was an executive with The Sports Authority for nearly seven years, rising to become chairman and CEO.

Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Senate on Wednesday voted 96-0 to confirm former Wal-Mart Foundation president Sylvia Mathews Burwell as White House budget director.

Burwell, the first fully confirmed budget director since January 2012, when Jack Lew, now Treasury Secretary, left the position to become Obama's chief of staff, received a vote of confidence from her former employer.

New York -- A Monday report by Reuters said that J.C. Penney has begun selling the Martha Stewart “JCP Everyday” lines of home goods, without waiting for a decision from the New York court.

According to Reuters, Penney general merchandise manager Paul Rutenis testified in New York State Supreme Court on Monday that "as of today, those products are on the floor and online."

New York -- The latest round in the battle between Macy’s and J.C. Penney over the sale of Martha Stewart goods went to Macy’s, which on Monday challenged a judge’s decision on Friday to allow certain non-branded Martha Steward items to be sold — at least temporarily — in J.C. Penney stores under the JCP Everyday label.

New York -- A New York State Supreme Court Judge ruled on Friday that J.C. Penney’s could temporarily sell certain housewares products from Martha Stewart Living in Penney stores. The ruling allows Penney to sell the product under the “JCP Everyday” label until a final decision comes at the end of the trial.

New York -- New York State Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Oing on Thursday refused to dismiss Macy's Inc's claim that Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia violated its contract when it designed certain merchandise for J.C. Penney Co., regardless of whether the items carry the Martha Stewart brand.

Boulder, Col. -- More consumers are trying new fashion retailers this year compared to last year – and most are buying when they do. H&M is the retailer that consumers reported visiting for the first time most often, followed by Kohl’s, Macy’s, Abercrombie & Fitch and Forever 21.