Tag Archives: business

Yesterday JC Penney CEO Ron Johnson stepped down after the company’s stock value plummeted by 50% during his 18-month tenure.  Anti-gay groups are cheering the news as proof that the public had rejected his hiring of Ellen Degeneres as their celebrity spokesperson. Johnson tried nixing sale events in favor of everyday low prices, and almost immediately found resistance from shoppers …

A coalition of almost 300 corporations, cities, and other organizations, some of whom also appear on yesterday’s Prop 8 brief, have filed a Supreme Court brief in support of the overturn of DOMA.  The ACLU reports via press release: Signers include Amazon.com, Apple, Bank of New York, CBS, Cisco Systems, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, Facebook, Google, JetBlue, Johnson & Johnson, Levi …

Later this week dozens of major corporations will file a joint Supreme Court brief in support of the overturn of Prop 8.  The names are huge, people. Fortune Magazine reports: On Thursday, dozens of American corporations, including Apple, Alcoa, Facebook, eBay, Intel, and Morgan Stanley will submit an amicus brief in the landmark Hollingsworth v. Perry case broadly arguing to …

The Europe-based webmaster of the Bay Area’s Fitness SF chain has “impounded” the company’s website and posted a blistering claim that his invoices are being ignored. I am writing this on the behalf of the tens of thousands of freelancers and small businesses out there facing larger corporations who can afford to starve them out. In the movie / visual …

Last night the boards of American Airlines and US Airways agreed to merge and create what will become the world’s largest airline. The new company will bear the American name and will be headed by the current CEO of US Airways. American has been restructuring under bankruptcy protection since late 2011. AMR creditors and possibly its shareholders will own 72 …

The gayest place on earth now has an openly gay president. Orlando’s Watermark reports: One of Walt Disney World’s first employees now has 66,000 cast members calling him “boss.” In August 1971, George Kalogridis scored a job bussing tables at The Walt Disney Company’s new theme park, set to open that October. Now, as of Feb. 1, Kalogridis is Walt …

The Human Rights Campaign today announced a new coalition of corporations that is endorsing the Respect For Marriage Act, which would legislatively repeal DOMA. The Business Coalition for DOMA Repeal is a group of leading U.S. employers that support legislative efforts to repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act through the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act. These Coalition …

The Wall Street Journal reports on the continuing trend. The efforts, while nascent, show a growing interest in reaching out to consumer groups beyond the standard Caucasian audience. Indeed, courting the gay market follows on retailers’ increased interest in ethnic groups, specifically blacks and Hispanics. For years retailers have advertised in gay magazines and through other gay media. But now …

JMG reader Mike shares his email exchange with JC Penney: Dear JCP, I love you guys. I have never been into a JC Penney store, but after seeing your ad with Cooper Smith and Todd Koch and their kids … well, you guys rock. I will find something to buy, just to say thank you!! sincerely, mike Dear Mike, Thank …

The Avengers is already in the top five for all-time domestic grosses. All-time world-wide grosses are here. Of course, the adjusted-for-inflation list is completely different.

Well, not all retail. But OMFG still! A company whose value is dependent on the continued success of two key products, now has a larger market capitalization (at $542 billion), than the entire US retail sector (as defined by the S&P 500). Little to add here. (Via Think Progress)

If you have an urgent need for sex toy, Brooklyn’s Babeland will dispatch one immediately via bike messenger. “This is New York City. You can get anything delivered,” said Pamela Doan, a spokeswoman for the purveyors of all things that vibrate and lubricate. The door-to-door of service works like this: whoopie-makers can scope out items online, then call Babeland to …

The New Hampshire legislature will consider a bill that would allow Christian businesses to refuse service to gay couples. Rep. Frank Sapareto says anybody that opposes his bill is “intolerant.” The bill would put an exemption in state marriage law. The proposed text says no person, including a business owner or employee, should be required to provide services, accommodations, advantages, …

Garsh, who could have predicted this? It’s unclear whether farmers in Georgia and Alabama will face a shortage of workers due to tough new laws targeting illegal immigration, but some producers said they have begun changing their plans for planting and harvesting this year’s crops. Some farmers said they might reduce the number of acres they plant or shift to …

I was crying so hard I couldn’t work my Instamatic. Kodak filed for bankruptcy today. Kodak has filed for bankruptcy in a bid to survive a liquidity crisis after years of falling sales related to the decline of its namesake film business as digital cameras have taken over the market. Eastman Kodak Co, the photographic film pioneer, which had tried …

The founder of the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain has died. The New York Times launches into his legacy in the very first sentence of their obit. Danny Evins, who created Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, a restaurant heavy on grits and nostalgia, expanded it into a $2 billion chain and then fought a losing battle to discriminate against gay employees, …

An Arizona woman has filed suit against Avis, alleging that the car rental giant violates California’s law against sexual orientation discrimination when if offers discounts to LGBT groups. Dave Rice reports at San Diego Reader: Lynn Evenchik claims that Avis’ practice of offering discounts to members of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association and National Gay and Lesbian Chamber …

Local Texas officials say the offer is legal. But a few commenters on the linked news story cite the Federal Civil Rights Act, which guarantees all people the right to “full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of any place of public accommodation, without discrimination or segregation on the ground of race, color, religion, …

Failed politician and former eBay CEO Meg Whitman has been hired to run the foundering HP, who last month pulled the plug on their brand new line of tablets. Whitman replaces current CEO Leo Apotheker after a short-lived,11-month stint, as the Silicon Valley giant continued its steep decline in both profit and investor confidence. HP not only suffers from poor …

Poor Groupon. Aside from being one of the most over-hyped and destined to flameout internet companies since Kozmo, they face hordes of competitors who have not only jumped on their concept, but use similar names as well. Via Techcrunch, here’s the backstory on Gaypon: Before becoming a Gaypon merchant, businesses are put through a background check of sorts, where they …