Walmart workers plan protests for Black Friday

Groups trying to organize Walmart workers say they plan 1,500 protests at Walmart stores across the nation on Black Friday, as they pressure the company to raise wages.

"Workers are calling for an end to illegal retaliation, and for Walmart to publicly commit to improving labor standards, such as providing workers with more full time work and $25,000 a year," the groups said in a press release.

The groups, including Making Change at Walmart and OUR Walmart are pushing the company to raise wages, and have staged walkouts and protests at stores in cities across the country.

There aren't any protests scheduled yet in the Charlotte area, according to a website about the protests listing their locations. So far, the only two protests planned in North Carolina are near Raleigh. But, if the groups reach their goal of 1,500 protests, it seems likely that at least one would be staged in Charlotte.

You can see more information and protest locations here.

Walmart plans to start its Black Friday deals at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. The company is softening the pain for its workers by offering them extra pay and a Thanksgiving meal in the stores.

OSHA to retailers: Be safe on Black Friday, avoid tramplings

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is warning retailers to get their crowd control plans in order in advance of next week's Black Friday shopping rush, in order to avoid workers or shoppers being trampled or otherwise injured.

The OSHA guidelines are an annual feature since Jdimytai Damour, 34, was trampled to death at a Long Island Walmart in 2008 by a mob rushing to get Black Friday deals.

Here are the highlights of OSHA's tips for retailers:

Crowd management plans should, at least, include:

• On-site trained security personnel or police officers.
• Barricades or rope lines for pedestrians that do not start right in front of the store's entrance. 
• The implementation of crowd control measures well in advance of customers arriving at the store.
• Emergency procedures in place to address potential dangers.
• Methods for explaining approach and entrance procedures to the arriving public.
• Not allowing additional customers to enter the store when it reaches its maximum occupancy level.
• Not blocking or locking exit doors.

 

The complete OSHA list of tips is here. It includes warnings such as this:

• Ensure that barricade lines have an adequate number of breaks and turns at regular intervals to reduce the risk of customers pushing from the rear and possibly crushing others, including workers.
• Prepare an emergency plan that addresses potential dangers facing workers, including overcrowding, crowd crushing, being struck by the crowd, violent acts and fire

Companies have taken steps to minimize danger since the stampede. For example, Walmart lets shoppers into its stores early now, and hands out tickets for deals before they're officially put on sale. That avoids the crush of people gathered outside, desperate to force their way in.

Publix lays out Charlotte plans on website

Publix fans can track the grocer's march into the Charlotte area on Charlotte.Publix.com, a website that will be updated with the opening dates for each of the 11 pending stores.

When all of its new locations are open, Publix will have 13 Charlotte-area supermarkets. The company is also building more locations across North Carolina, including Cary and Asheville. Publix recently opened a Charlotte divisional office on W. Tyvola Road.

In a bid to quickly boost its presence in Charlotte, Publix bought seven BI-LO supermarkets in September. The retailer plans to reopen them in 2014 as Publix stores.

The rest of the grocer's Charlotte-area stores are slated for completion in 2015. Publix has two nearby South Carolina stores open already, one in Fort Mill and one in Indian Land.

Publix's map of its current and upcoming locations.

CC's opening fourth store uptown

CC's, a locally-owned clothing and accessories store, is opening its fourth Charlotte-area store Tuesday, in the Bank of America Plaza uptown.

The store, at 101 S. Tryon Street, Suite 17, will sell women's apparel, jewelry and accessories, adding another retail option for uptown workers.

Here's CC's description, for those who aren't familiar with the store: "With over 5,000 unique items, at discounts of up to 50% off retail pricing, the boutique retailer is known for offering a wide selection of trendy clothing, upscale costume jewelry and unique accessories at incredible prices."

There are three other CC's locations at Blakeney, Northlake Mall and Carolina Place mall. The store is owned by Laura Cline.

"We are so excited to expand into the uptown area," said Cline, in a statement. "The city is growing and we hope to grow along with it by providing a much needed retail option in the city center."


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H&M coming to SouthPark?

It's H&M rumor redux: Workers at SouthPark, the area's largest mall, are saying H&M is planning a third Charlotte store there.

This isn't the first time a SouthPark H&M has been rumored. But I've heard this from two different people now. And at Hallmark, one of the stores H&M would be replacing, an employee said that management has told her the store will close in the coming months to make way for an H&M.

The new H&M would be located near Macy's, and would replace some of the existing stores in that wing. It would be the second big new store for the Macy's wing: An American Girl store is also slated to open there in fall 2014.

Given that this rumor has some legs, I asked SouthPark mall general manager Randy Thomas whether shoppers should expect an H&M at the mall anytime soon. Thomas referred the question to Brave Public Relations, which handles PR for mall owner Simon Property Group. "Please reach out to H&M to confirm this," replied spokeswoman Carly Dennis.

H&M spokeswoman Nichole Christie didn't return a message about whether H&M is planning a store at SouthPark.

A SouthPark store would be H&M's third in the Charlotte area, following stores at Northlake Mall and Pineville's Carolina Place mall. The Northlake store opened last week, drawing hundreds of die-hard fans, and the Pineville store opens next month.


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RiverGate shopping center to expand

Childress Klein Properties said this week they are working on an expansion to Steele Creek's RiverGate shopping center that will add several big retailers to the shopping complex.

The 150,000-square foot expansion will open in late summer next year. The anchor tenants include HomeGoods, Michaels, and Ulta Beauty. The expansion is on 22 acres adjacent to RiverGate, and will be called the Shops at RiverGate South.

Childress Klein is the original developer of RiverGate, a 600,000-square foot shopping center that opened in 2006.



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Concord Mills, SouthPark to open on Thanksgiving

The Charlotte region's two biggest shopping malls will open on Thanksgiving Day, joining the flood of retailers rushing to snap up shopper's dollars earlier than ever this year.

SouthPark and Concord Mills are both opening at 8 p.m. Thanksgiving, and staying open all night and through Black Friday.

"Heading to Concord Mills with family and friends is the perfect way to wrap up a holiday about gratitude and togetherness," said Holly Roberson, director of marketing and business development at Concord Mills, in a statement.


"Many families enjoy entertainment traditions around Thanksgiving, whether it's sharing meals, going shopping, seeing a movie or watching a game together," she said. "We are excited to meet our customers’ different schedules and needs."

Both malls are owned by Simon Property Group, the largest shopping mall operator in the U.S. Their earlier opening times replace midnight and Friday morning openings in years past.

At SouthPark, the first 100 people to register their email addresses at the mall's guest services counter will receive a "VIP gift bag." And "strolling carolers" will roam the mall, singing between 8 p.m. and midnight on Thanksgiving.

At Concord Mills, the mall is a little more vague about what kind of specials early shoppers will enjoy. "Everyone can come walk off those Thanksgiving calories," the mall notes in its press release.

The region's malls likely won't have much of a choice about when to open this year, since some of their biggest anchors like Belk and Macy's are opening at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving.