Blog Posts: Retail Law Advisor
Visit the Full BlogThis blog keeps you connected to timely developments and emerging issues in retail law and covers a wide range of topics related to the retail, restaurant and consumer industry. We invite you to learn more about Goulston & Storrs and our Retail, Restaurant & Consumer Group.
Teavana and Whole Foods: Is the Pendulum Swinging in Favor of Protecting Mall Landlords Against Strategic Tenant Closures?
As mall landlords continue to see substantial tenant vacancies, some landlords have begun to challenge solvent tenants who decide to go dark before the end of their lease. In two important recent cases — Simon Property Group, L.P. v. Starbucks Corporation, Case No. 49D01-1708-PL-032170 (Indiana Superior Court) and Bellevue...
Robots Will Reshape – Not Replace – Retail Work
As we have discussed in earlier blog posts , rapid changes in the retail landscape due to the rise of e-commerce and a shift in customer’s interests from old-school, one-stop department store shopping to experiential retail, has led to a recent wave of retail bankruptcies and store closings. The...
E-commerce Is Changing the Definition of Retail Employment
The retail landscape is in the midst of a mind-boggling – and fast-moving – evolution. In a short amount of time, Americans have radically changed how they shop for things, utilizing multiple channels of shopping to meet their needs. 80% of Americans are now shopping online, and they utilize...
How Grocery Stores Are Starting to Cash in on the Blue Apron Trend
The Rise of the Gourmet Home Chef Boxed meal delivery services like Blue Apron and Plated have steadily risen in popularity since they entered the market in 2012. Meal kit delivery services offer consumers a no-hassle way to cook meals at home, without having to find recipes, plan meals,...
3D Printing: Potential Pitfalls For Retailers
What is 3D printing? 3D printing, a seemingly futuristic method of manufacturing objects, is steadily moving into the mainstream as three dimensional printers have relocated from labs to the shelves of retail stores. 3D printing , or additive manufacturing, is a method of production where small machines –robots –...
[Insert Your Trademark Here].sucks – Is Your Brand at Risk?
In recent years, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the non-profit entity responsible for maintaining the Domain Name System of the Internet, has begun to introduce hundreds of new top-level domains. Top-level domains (TDLs) are the last part of a domain name, some of the most...
Social Media Policies: Protection for “Water Cooler” Discussions in the Digital Age
As discussed in an earlier blog post , conflict between retail employers and their employees over the use of social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter is increasingly common. Although retail employers are well-advised to adopt social media policies to set clear expectations for their employees, these policies...
The Dangers of Social Media: Employment Disputes
Social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter are proving to be an increasing source of conflict between employers and employees, with surprising and unpredictable outcomes. For example, a store manager who checks the Facebook account of a prospective hire may not realize that this activity can violate anti-discrimination...