Content about Social Issues

BELLEVUE, Wash. — Eddie Bauer first ascent guide Melissa Arnot summited Mt. Everest for the fifth time, the most of any woman in history. Arnot's celebratory summit falls only weeks after the 50th anniversary of the 1963 expedition outfitted by Eddie Bauer that marked the first American summit of the mountain by Jim Whittaker and his Sherpa partner, Nawang Gombu, and later by Tom Hornbein and Willi Unsoeld via the West Ridge.

INDIANAPOLIS — Speaking to the collected body of Do it Best Dealers during the co-op's Merchandising Market Preview here, Steve Markley described light bulbs as a high-interest, high-reward category. 

He encouraged dealers to visit the GE booth, as well as that of new vendor TCP. Vendors and Do it Best executives say that as more options -- and more questions -- hit the light bulb category, the more the hardware store format will benefit. If they have the right products and the right product knowledge, light bulbs can result in big gains. 

CHICAGO — A year after Groupon acquired Breadcrumb, a point of sale system and iPad app, the deal-of-the-day website has launched the suite of cloud-based iPad and smartphone tools. The free iPad app enables quick-service eateries, salons, spas and retail merchants to maximize revenue. 

Breadcrumb products include flexible iPad point-of-sale products and payments solutions for all businesses, which include a low price guarantee on credit card transaction fees, free installation assistance and 24/7 phone technical support. 

SAN DIEGO — Petco Foundation has appointed CASPCA executive Susanne Kogut as the new executive director of its board of directors. Kogut will replace the foundation's long-time executive director, Paul Jolly, who has led the organization since its inception in 1999.

RadioShack is courting the college market and has entered into a five-year agreement with NACSCORP, a subsidiary of the National Association of College Stores.

Under the agreement, the retailer will offer an assortment of consumer electronics and accessories to the nearly 4,000 college store customers NACSCORP currently serves.

DALLAS — HoneyBaked has entered into a software licensing agreement with PeopleAnswers. Under the agreement, the food retailer will leverage the PeopleAnswers HR-focused business solution to upgrade its recruiting process and increase employee retention and performance in its 111 company-owned stores.

WESTBORO, Mass. — Modell’s has selected Micros-Retail, a leading provider of retail technology for the specialty and general merchandise retail industry, to help it improve customer experience, modernize IT for the stores and streamline day-to-day functions. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pamela G. Bailey, president and CEO of the Grocery Manufacturers Association, has announced the addition of two new directors to the association’s federal affairs staff, Nancy Kohler and David Prestwood.

SAN DIEGO — Petco's National Adoption Weekend coincides with Mother's Day, and to honor mom on her special day, the retailer is showcasing moms who have adopted or fostered a pet in need while trying to find homes for pets in shelters.

Petco will hold adoption events nationwide from Saturday, May 11 through Sunday, May 12. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet pets in need of homes, speak with local adoption groups about fostering and learn how to properly care for a new pet's physical, mental, social and emotional needs.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — The year appears to be off to a good start and CVS Caremark executives were optimistic Wednesday morning as the company pulled in a “strong” first quarter and narrowed its 2013 guidance to reflect higher-than-expected performance.
 

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500 representing the greater New York area claimed victory over Target this week and offered some harsh words following a ruling by the National Labor Relations Board.

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Johnson & Johnson chairman and CEO Alex Gorsky told shareholders at the company's annual shareholder meeting that its consumer healthcare business would reclaim its prominence in the U.S. marketplace. But OTC growth will be greatest outside of the U.S.