Enjoy the Holidays

We hope you enjoy your holidays, we'll be back next week and unveil our new 2009 plans.

Until then we hope the recent gains by BJ's [BJ's Wholesale Club - up 11.5%] are being reflected upon you, the workers who deserve the credit.

Happy Holidays!

An interview with the new CEO, A new member to the board of directors....

Image by Road Fun via FlickrHere's an interview with the new CEO of BJ's Wholesale Club, Laura Sen.

BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. has elected Picis president and c.e.o. Christine Cournoyer, to its board of directors. The Wakefield, Mass.-based company is a worldwide provider of software solutions for automating resource-intensive hospital documentation and business practices...

It's been said throughout this blog that the company needs change.

Anonymous 12/17/2008: "...All we can hope for is CHANGE"

Anonymous 12/17/2008: "But when January comes they'll forget all about how many hours we worked and will think nothing of cutting all of our hours. Apparently we all need the money and we still need it in January..."

Anonymous 12/10/2008: "The ONLY thing your GM is interested in is keeping his job with the salary and bonus. He knows in todays market, new jobs are tough to find."

With all these new appointments and hires, where's the change for the real people who run the company? We'll have a monthly wrap up of the comments next week...until then, Happy Holidays!

A new CEO for BJ's Wholesale Club

BJ's Wholesale Club on Thursday named its president, Laura Sen, to serve as chief executive officer, succeeding Herb Zarkin in a widely expected management change...

Previous reports of Herb Zarkin's retirement were denounced, as he will continue to serve as chairman and will stand for re-election to the board when his term expires in May of 2010.

Read more here at Business Week.

BJ's announces new store opening in Florida...

Image by Ditch the Kitsch!! via Flickr
The hard economic times do not seem to be on retailers like BJ's & Wal-Mart, who are taking advantage of the struggling economy by offering lower prices than competitors, question is though are their employees seeing any of these benefits?

CLERMONT - A BJ's Wholesale Club is scheduled to open next spring, showing that commercial growth in Clermont is not about to stop, even with a slowdown in the construction of new homes.

Read the entire article here [Orlando Sentinel]

Has BJ's cited tough economic times to regarding to your wages?

Tough Economy??? Not for BJ's, reports say sales continue to rise..

mage by Getty Images via Daylife
BJ's Wholesale Club continues to gain.

Here's a link to their press release reporting strong sales.

Wal-Mart sales also were up. Both retailers continue to make money in this economy

Forecasts are up for BJ's

Once again, investing websites are predicting sunny skies for BJ's Wholesale Club:

The company’s efforts to improve its merchandise and increase store traffic continue to drive its sales. The difficult macro-economic conditions are also pushing customers into discount stores and wholesale clubs, which offer a better value compared to supermarkets. We maintain our Hold rating, and our target price of $38.

Retailers like BJ's Wholesale Club & Wal-Mart are set to thrive in tough economic times.

Here's another investment blog saying BJ's will benefit in this economy.

BJ's sales up

Image via Wikipedia
BJ's said Thursday that its October sales at stores open at least one year rose 10.2%, with a contribution from gasoline sales of 3.6%. Analysts, on average, had expected same-store sales to rise 6.3%, according to Thomson Reuters. Total sales for the four weeks ended November 1 rose 11.6% to $738.8 million.

Mouse found baked in bread sold at BJ's...

A man in North Carolina has found a mouse baked inside a package of Hot Dog buns sold at BJ's Wholesale Club.

BJ’s Wholesale Club has pulled thousands of bread products from 44 stores in three states after we called the company to inform them of what a customer believes he found when he went to make dinner.

A spokeswoman for BJ’s also sent a statement, it reads, “BJ’s first priority is the health and safety of our members. We deeply regret Mr. Van Dyne’s experience as he described it to us. The Arnold Potato Hot Dog Rolls come to us prepackaged from George Weston Bakeries and are placed directly on our shelves by George Weston employees. We have contacted George Weston Bakeries and they are investigating this matter. George Weston has informed us that the product under investigation was manufactured at their facility in Plant City, Florida. As a precaution, we are removing all potentially effected products made by the George Weston Plant City, Florida facility.”

Read the entire story here

NBC carried the story here

And the Charlotte Observer here.

BJ's Store Closings...

From the State, South Carolina

From staff reports

South Carolina's only BJ’s Wholesale Club will close today in Greenville.
The Massachusetts-based chain announced last week that it will close the store on Woodruff Road for failing to meet sales expectations, company spokeswoman Maria Fruci told The Greenville News.
BJ's operates 178 wholesale clubs in 16 states. The Greenville store opened in 2000 and employs about 60.
Fruci told the Greenville paper the company has no plans to close any additional clubs.
BJ's members in the Greenville area will receive pro-rated membership fee refunds

 What are your thoughts?  We've gotten a few email's asking if we've heard any rumors that would affect the NY/NJ area, we'll keep everyone posted.  But what's the feeling around the clubs?

Here's an article regarding the development that will overtake once BJ's vacates.

BJ's shuts down store in Mass...Jose Reyes shopping at BJ's....

BJ's Wholesale Club of Massachusetts says it will close its store in Greenville, putting about 60 people out of work.


Here's a story on Jose Reyes shopping at BJ's.

Management, More thoughts on BJ's in Brooklyn, Comments

So that article we spoke about in yesterdays blog (regarding healthy, affordable food for community residents and sustainable quality jobs for the community) is getting a lot of press throughout the blog world. 

Two popular local blogs picked up the BJ's story asking readers if they felt BJ's was right for their community....Queens Crap.....and The Gothamist.

 

 
What's all your thoughts on Management promotions?
There's been a lot of comments and talk with employees regarding the wrong people in the wrong positions at the clubs.
One blogger said:

"What are Rich and Michele thinking by making Angela a manager. She will NOT be able to handle it."

Comment from yesterday noted one of a great idea from an employee...

"What corporate should do is contact former employees (hourlies and management) to find out the what REALLY happens at the clubs."

 What are your independent thoughts?

New York City Supermarkets evaporating, BJ's isn't the answer...

In Today's NY Daily News, Albor Ruiz highlights the effect of 'Big Box' stores, specifically BJ's Warehouse Club's who require shoppers to bay a 'membership fee' in an urban environment. These stores cannot be the solution to this growing problem of Food Access that New Yorkers continue to face. New Yorkers need a supermarket, not a Warehouse club. We need Good Food+ Good Jobs, which will lead to Good Health. Here's an excerpt from the article:

"One of our issues with the warehouse club stores is also an issue with the mayor," said Grocery Workers Union organizer Pat Purcell. "The city did a study and determined that we need at least 100 supermarkets in the city, not more BJ's."

It is precisely in Verderosso's neighborhood where the latest episode of this "Big Fish Eats Little Fish" reality series is developing right now.

Two giant BJ's Warehouse Club stores are planned for Brooklyn - one off the Belt Parkway in Bensonhurst, and the other at the site of the old Key Food Warehouse at the Brooklyn Terminal Market in Canarsie.

"I have lived here all my life, and I know that many people are on tight budgets. They - especially the elderly - need a supermarket in their neighborhood," said the Brooklyn-born Verderosso, who has three children.

"These club stores put everybody out of business. When they are no longer profitable, they close, leaving behind an empty building and a neighborhood in decay."

According to the Neighborhood Retail Alliance, BJ's stores gross more than a million dollars a week in sales and attract around 7,000 cars a day. Their impact on the existing supermarkets would be nothing short of devastating.

Read the entire story here.

We'd love to hear what you all think...

BJ's biggest problem....Management

Whether you work in Massachusettes, Maryland or anywhere in between, every BJ's worker we speak to shares a common issue...poor management. It seems as though if you're in the good graces of a DM, GM or any manager you can advance and do well at BJ's. If for some reason you are not a favorite of your local management than you will experience a loss of hours, a change in job descrition or an icreased workload...regardless of your seniority.

South Jersey seems especially hard hit by this problem. As one anonymous NJ worker put it

"I don't know if the powers that be are just clueless... Do they take this into account when coming up with the clubs' payroll or are they just keeping it at an unreachable goal" (posted 7/13/08)

Is the management just trained improperly or is this behavior encouraged by BJ's at the corporate level? Or are top managers so interested in keeping payroll down that they ask the impossible of workers? Either way there is clearly a problem at BJ's that runs from the top down!

Hopefully the company will take steps to address this issue...but you probably shouldn't hold your breath.

UFCW to BJ's "expect a fight"

From the Neighborhood Retail Alliance.

As Crain's Insider is reporting there's a move afoot to stop the proliferation of BJs Warehouse Clubs in Brooklyn. As Crain's points out: "United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500 is gearing up to stop two BJ’s Wholesale Club locations from opening in Brooklyn. One project, in Bensonhurst, requires City Council approval. UFCW is counting on Councilman Domenic RecchiaBJ’s won’t be a tenant. Recchia is a friend of labor but also of developer Joe Sitt. UFCW’s Pat Purcell says BJ’s pays poorly and shuns low-income customers by charging a membership fee and not accepting food stamps. The union is also trying to keep BJ’s out of the Brooklyn Terminal Market in Canarsie. “We will spare no expense,” Purcell vows."

What the UFCW is trying to do is to prevent the further erosion of neighborhood supermarkets. In a two mile radius of the Brooklyn Terminal Market there are 26 local stores that will be put at risk by the box store. At the same time that the mayor, and his able aide Ben Thomasses, are talking about supermarket preservation, there's no effort to curtail the box stores that will put these stores at greater risk. Something needs to be done, and the Alliance will be part of this effort. to ensure that

BJ's Shares Fall 9%

An analyst downgraded shares of BJ's Wholesale Club on Wednesday after rival Costco Wholesale Corp. offered an earnings outlook below Wall Street expectations, citing rising energy costs and plans to refrain from raising prices.Shares of BJ's fell $3.86, or 9.5 percent, to $36.89, while rival Costco declined $8.57, or 11.9 percent, to $63.43.

BJ's in the news...

NJ-Local officials have given their initial approval for a 280,000-sf shopping center at the intersection of Route 9 and Lanes Mill Road here. Proposed by YCC Development Inc., a locally based group, the project named Tropicana Commercial Center would be anchored by an 118,000-sf BJ's Wholesale Club.

A BJs employee triggered a dry chemical at a BJs Gas pump.

Beef at BJ's Wholesale Club Recalled...

Fairbank Farms, a national ground beef producer has issued a voluntary beef recall for some of their products produced in its Ashville, NY facility.
Some of the beef includes ones sold at Bj's Wholesale Club and Wilson Farms.
Fairbank Farms decided to recall the products after some customers complained about the beef containing small pieces of plastic.

The recall includes:
--BJ's Ground Beef Patty - 85% Lean and 15% fat (16 Count) 5.3 pound with a sell by date 5/15/08.

Read the entire story here.

Legal Notice to all Current and Former BJ's Managers

********

URGENT LEGAL NOTICE TO ALL CURRENT AND FORMER BJ'S WHOLESALE CLUB
OVERNIGHT MANAGERS AND DEPARTMENT MANAGERS

YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE BACK PAY FOR UNPAID OVERTIME WAGES

The Levin Law Firm, a class action law firm, requests
all current and former BJ's Wholesale Club
Overnight Managers and Department Managers
to contact the Firm immediately
as it seeks to recover unpaid overtime wages for these managers.

If you are currently, or were recently, a BJ's Overnight or Department Manager
please contact the Levin Law Firm at 1-877-677-4529 or info@levinclients.com.

********

Earnings, is that all BJ's cares about?

BJs Wholesale Club (NYSE:BJ) will release the first quarter earnings for 2008 on Wednesday, May 21. A conference call will be held on that day. The time of the call is still to be determined. A live webcast of the presentation will be available at bjsinvestor.com/medialist.cfm.

BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. (BJ's) is a warehouse club operator in the eastern United States. As of February 2, 2008, the Company operated 177 warehouse clubs in 16 states, 100 of which operated gasoline stations.

BJ's revenues are derived from the sale of a range of food and general merchandise items, the sale of gasoline and from membership fees. During the fiscal year ended February 2, 2008 (fiscal 2007), food accounted for approximately 61% of BJ’s total food and general merchandise sales. The remaining 39% consisted of a variety of general merchandise items.

That's a lot of Stock....BJ's CFO Sells 55,930 Shares of Stock

BJ's CFO Sells 55,930 Shares of Stock

BJ's Wholesale Club's Chief Financial Officer Frank D. Forward Sells 55,930 Shares of Stock

March 13, 2008: 11:59 AM EST

NEW YORK (Associated Press) - The chief financial officer of BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. exercised options for 50,00 shares of common stock and then sold 55,930 shares, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Wednesday.

In a Form 4 filed with the SEC, Frank D. Forward reported he exercised options for $15.01 apiece Tuesday and then sold the shares for $34.27 to $35 apiece the same day.

The stock sale was conducted under a prearranged 10b5-1 trading plan which allows a company insider to set up a program in advance for such transactions and proceed with them even if he or she comes into possession of material non-public information.

Insiders file Form 4s with the SEC to report transactions in their companies' shares. Open market purchases and sales must be reported within two business days of the transaction.

BJ's Wholesale Club is a Natick, Mass.-based discount warehouse club.

BJ's Wholesale Club to Announce Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year-End Results on March 5, 2008

NATICK, Mass., Feb 25, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. (NYSE:BJ) plans to announce financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended February 2, 2008 on March 5, 2008 at approximately 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

Also on March 5, 2008, BJ's management plans to hold a conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the fourth quarter and fiscal year-end results and the outlook for 2008. The dial-in number for the conference call is 913-312-1474. There will be no dial-in replay.

To access a webcast of the conference call, visit www.bjsinvestor.com/medialist.cfm. An archive of the webcast will remain available for approximately 90 days.

BJ's introduced the wholesale club concept to New England in 1984, and has since expanded to become a leading warehouse chain in the eastern United States. The Company currently operates 177 BJ's Wholesale Clubs in 16 states. BJ's press releases and filings with the SEC are available on the Internet at www.bjsinvestor.com.

SOURCE: BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc.

BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc.
Cathy Maloney, 508-651-6650
Vice President, Investor Relations
cmaloney@bjs.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008

**********************************************************************

As of Thursday, 02-21-2008 23:59, the latest Comtex SmarTrend® Alert,
an automated pattern recognition system, indicated an UPTREND on
01-23-2008 for BJ @ $29.85.

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provider or go to www.mysmartrend.com

SmarTrend is a registered trademark of Comtex News Network, Inc.
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How was the first month of 2008?

We've been getting emails from a lot of Queens (NY) BJ's members regarding their treatment. We'd like to hear from everyone (even New England where we'll be coming soon!) to see if 2008 has brought any big changes. Let us know, and keep the emails coming! We need to hear about your issues so we can help!

BJ's Wholesale names Sen president, COO

Will things get better or worse for employees at BJ's in 2008? Our guess, worse...

NEW YORK, Jan 15 (Reuters) - BJ's Wholesale Club Inc (BJ.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Tuesday that it named Laura Sen its president and chief operating officer, and elected her to the company's board of directors.

The No. 3 U.S. warehouse club operator said Sen, who was most recently its executive vice president of merchandising and logistics, will be responsible for all day-to-day operations.

The retailer said Herb Zarkin, its chairman and CEO, will retain "a number of key responsibilities," including leading its strategic planning, management succession and expansion efforts. (Reporting by Nicole Maestri; Editing by Derek Caney)