Latest Retail Headlines

All the headlines from our Retail Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Managing Underwriter Bill Creates Unwelcome Surprise for Some Texas Agents

Jan 14 2013 // A bill passed during the 2011 session of the Texas Legislature is creating havoc for some independent insurance agents in the state. House Bill 3410 creates a definition of a managing underwriter, and addresses the filing...

Large Retailers Rediscover Wholesale

Dec 17 2012 // It was in 2005 at the height of the Spitzer investigations when Aon, Marsh and Willis divested their wholesale brokerage operations to avoid appearances of conflict of interest with their retail side. But 2013 might be the...

After Bangladesh Fire, Wal-Mart Vows to Address Supply Chain Risks

Dec 14 2012 // A factory fire that killed more than 100 garment workers in Bangladesh has led the world’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., to concede that it needs to do more to control its supply chain and keep unauthorized...

How Businesses Can Protect Against Black Friday Litigation

Nov 21 2012 // Black Friday can be a great day for both retailers and consumers but the crowds and hysteria surrounding the kick-off to the holiday shopping season lead to at least a handful of injuries every year. In 2011, more than 20...

Wal-Mart to Pay for Heart, Spine Surgery for Employees

Oct 11 2012 // Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is offering its U.S. employees and their families free heart and spine surgeries at six major health centers at no cost to the retailer’s workers, as it tries to find better ways to cover costly,...

Barclays Bank Shows Retail Intent with Takeover of ING Direct

Oct 10 2012 // Barclays’ new chief executive set the course firmly towards retail banking on Tuesday with his first deal since replacing Bob Diamond – the takeover of ING’s British savings and loan business and its 1.5...

Wal-Mart Employees in Florida Claim Gender Bias in Lawsuit

Oct 8 2012 // Three female Wal-Mart Stores Inc. employees have filed a lawsuit in South Florida claiming the retail giant discriminates against women in areas such as wages and promotion opportunities The potential class-action lawsuit...

Brokers Report Keen Direct Line Interest; But Some Investors Wary

Oct 2 2012 // Stockbrokers involved in the planned stock market listing of British insurer Direct Line reported good interest from private investors in London’s first big retail share offering for six years, although some...

Judge Lets Wal-Mart Discrimination Case Proceed

Sep 24 2012 // A U.S. judge rejected Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s request to dismiss a gender discrimination case filed in California, but said he would rule later about whether the women plaintiffs had enough evidence to be certified as...

U. of California Sues Facebook, Wal-Mart, Disney Over Patents

Sep 13 2012 // A University of California patent licensee which has sued some of the biggest U.S. companies is taking on three more — Facebook Inc., Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and the Walt Disney Co. Eolas Technologies Inc. and the...

Mississippi Court Rules Wal-Mart Not Liable in Gun Ammo Sale to Underage Shooter

Sep 10 2012 // If a store sells ammunition to an underage person who uses the bullets to kill someone, is the retailer responsible? Not necessarily, according to the Mississippi Supreme Court. The court ruled 5-4 this week in favor of...

Man’s Gun Fires in Dallas Walmart; 4, Including 2 Children, Slightly Hurt

Jul 25 2012 // Investigators say a man and three bystanders have been slightly hurt when his gun accidentally fired at a Walmart store in Dallas. Police say 23-year-old Todd Canady of Waco was booked on an evading arrest charge. Police...

Kentucky to License Retailers Selling Insurance for Portable Electronic Devices

Jul 10 2012 // Kentucky regulators have released a new license application that will allow retailers for the first time to sell insurance to cover the portable electronic devices they sell. State lawmakers earlier this year a law that...

Walmart, Target to Pay Mass. $232K for Prescription Drug Overcharges

Jul 5 2012 // Walmart and Target Corporation will pay $232,000 to cities and towns across Massachusetts to settle allegations that the companies allegedly overcharged public agencies for prescription drugs through the workers’...

New York City Pension Fund Sues Wal-Mart Over Mexican Bribery Allegations

Jun 12 2012 // New York City’s pension funds on Monday became the latest group to file a derivative lawsuit against Wal-Mart Stores Inc. based on reported allegations of bribery in Mexico and a possible cover-up by Wal-Mart...

Judge Questions Evidence in Gender Bias Claim Against Wal-Mart

Jun 11 2012 // A U.S. judge on Friday said he was “seriously concerned” about whether women suing Wal-Mart Stores Inc. had enough evidence to move forward with their refiled gender discrimination lawsuit. Plaintiffs alleging...

8 Things Independent Agents Can Learn From Sam Walton

Jun 8 2012 // Wal-Mart and independent agencies seemingly have little in common. Not so. There are many helpful ideas to cull from Mr. Walton’s amazing odyssey from one store to the largest retailer in the world — as revealed in...

Contractor Sues Retailer Over Remodeling Project

Jun 4 2012 // An Idaho-based general contractor is suing Fred Meyer Inc. and its parent, Kroger Co., claiming the retail chain improperly dumped the contractor over the renovation of a Fairbanks, Alaska store. The Fairbanks Daily...

Contractor Sues Retailer Over Remodeling Project

May 22 2012 // An Idaho-based general contractor is suing Fred Meyer Inc. and its parent, Kroger Co., claiming the retail chain improperly dumped the contractor over the renovation of a Fairbanks, Alaska store. The Fairbanks Daily...

8 Things Independent Agents Can Learn from Sam Walton

May 21 2012 // Wal-Mart and independent agencies seemingly have little in common. Not so. There are many helpful ideas to cull from Mr. Walton’s amazing odyssey from one store to the largest retailer in the world — as revealed in...