In late June, members of the local and national retail community convened at Goulston & Storrs’ Boston office to participate in an interactive panel discussion billed as RETAIL 2020: Future Ready. Panelists included Ben...more
Our Retail team just returned from a week in London where we met with the firm’s UK-based retail clients and other retail industry professionals. The biggest topic of conversation centered around Brexit....more
In the opening montage of the famous American 1980’s sitcom, The Jetsons, we see the family zipping through their futuristic utopia donning clothing and accessories that we could only dream of, until today. Coco Chanel once...more
Despite its universality, the shopping mall, as we know it, is at a pivotal juncture in its existence. A tsunami of torrential trends – in particular, the rise of floundering malls and underwhelming sales for luxury anchor...more
For those that follow the mantra – “fortune favors the bold” – breaking ground in lesser known international retail frontiers may have significant pay-offs, as evidenced by the first-wave of retailers who made retail...more
The Goulston & Storrs’ MAPIC team has returned from the 21st annual MAPIC (le marché international professionnel de l’implantation commerciale et de la distribution) conference in Cannes, France. From November 16-18, MAPIC...more
When it comes to shopping, men generally fall into one of two camps: (a) those who simply don’t know how to shop and would rather book their next root canal before embarking on such an experience and (b) those who don’t have...more
Despite its reputation for over-filtered pictures, fashion blogging on #Instagram has moved the needle and compelled the fashion industry to welcome a group of #fashionistas that traditionally have been considered the...more
What would the retail industry be without Fashion Week, the twice-a-year event series during which major designers launch their women’s ready-to-wear lines? What we see on the catwalk during this week highly influences...more
In December 2014, we reported that the General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) had issued 13 complaints naming McDonald's as a “joint employer” of the employees at its franchisees. The complaints alleged...more
9/16/2015
/ AFL-CIO ,
Browning-Ferris Industries of California Inc. ,
Collective Bargaining ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Franchisee ,
Franchises ,
Franchisors ,
International Franchise Association (IFA) ,
Joint Employers ,
McDonalds ,
NLRB ,
Staffing Agencies ,
Unions ,
Wage and Hour
It may only be the first week of August, but the retail world is already in full swing with one of its most important times of the year: back-to-school. Back-to-school is the second-biggest shopping season of the year,...more
Goulston & Storrs has a long and proud tradition of supporting diversity. It’s not just a theoretical goal; we believe diversity helps us recognize and appreciate alternate viewpoints which ultimately improves our firm and...more
Memorial Day has passed and while offices still hum with productivity, we can feel summer around the corner. With that in mind, we’ve explored what might be in store for the retail industry this summer.
Although the...more
In the recent administrative proceeding before the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) against ECM Biofilms, Inc. (ECM), the FTC’s presiding chief administrative law judge (ALJ) ruled that the plastics additive manufacturer ECM...more
For many decades, the downtown, metropolitan area of a city was considered the central breeding ground for innovation and economic development. Establishing a retail chain within a metropolitan hub was considered the...more
It may surprise some to learn that the Affordable Care Act of 2010, a.k.a. “ObamaCare,” among other things, amended the US Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to require chain restaurants and similar retail food business to provide...more
We recently reported in to our clients about a little-known element of the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) that will require many QSRs (Quick Serve Restaurants) to provide specific calorie and nutrition information to their...more
Over the past few years, there has been a discouraging rash of mall vacancies and closings, as traditional department stores and retail chains have had to close shop, lick their wounds, and get back to the drawing board in...more
On December 19, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued 13 complaints naming McDonalds as a “joint employer” of the employees at its franchisees....more
The week prior to our Thanksgiving, from November 19-21 , MAPIC (le marché international professionnel de l’implantation commerciale et de la distribution) hosted its 20th annual international retail property market...more
In a world of Instagram, Facebook and SMS text marketing, being fleet of foot in an ever-changing world of retail advertising and sales is the name of the game. As retailers and restaurateurs navigate the treacherous waters...more
As much as we all love clipping coupons from circulars (yes, they still do exist), searching through our emails for retail promotions, and, perusing websites, such as Gilt Groupe, for bargains, a new marketing trend is upon...more