Readers of books and other publications in Minnesota may receive money from a case ongoing in another state. That state's attorney general has announced that Apple Inc. will pay over $400 million to settle consumer claims that it conspired with publishers to set the prices for e-books. The settlement follows a July 2013 New York federal court ruling that the company conspired with five major publishers in the United States to maintain high e-book prices in light of competition and discount prices from Amazon.com.
Minnesota man starts throw-back bottling company
When deciding to start a business there are many options for the type of company people can have. People can sell, manufacture, trade or create anything from A-Z. However, when deciding on the type of business formation, the options are more limited. Most small business startups today are formed as a limited liability company, or LLC. This was the decision of a Forest Lake man who recently opened a returnable soda bottling company that brings back a little nostalgia.
Minnesota tackles vacant big box stores
Big box retail buildings were located throughout the United States and Minnesota beginning in the 1960s and exploded, especially in the suburbs, in the 1990s and early 2000s. However, the Great Recession, downsizing and changing consumer tastes greatly impacted the occupants of these structures, such as Wal-Mart, Kmart and Target, which sold a large assortment of certain types of merchandise. Many retailers have now closed these stores and left huge, cavernous and unoccupied structures. This downturn has presented a large commercial real estate challenge for developers and owners.
American Apparel battles former CEO
To combat a takeover bid by its former CEO and founder, Dov Charney, American Apparel announced a one-year shareholders' rights plan on June 28. The Los-Angeles based retailer was founded in 1998, employs 10,000, manufactures clothing which it sells in 20 countries and has stores throughout the world, including in the state of Minnesota.
