OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

New York -- With just 105 shopping days left until Christmas (as of Sept. 10), Toys “R” Us outlined its holiday strategy at a preview event in New York City. Among the highlights: free online layaway, enhanced loyalty program, improved online and in-store checkout, and two new in-store shops.  
    
“Our focus at Toys “R” Us for the 2014 holiday season is to make it easy for customers to shop with us, both in-store and online,” said Hank Mullany, president, Toys “R” Us, U.S.

Atlanta – A Home Depot customer has reportedly filed a lawsuit against The Home Depot Inc. alleging the retailer did not properly protect consumer data from the recent cyber attack that occurred. According to Reuters, Illinois resident Kelsey O’Brien filed the suit Sept. 9 in Chicago federal court.

Duluth, Minn. -- Maurices, a subsidiary of the Ascena Retail Group, announced that Ali Wing has been named chief marketing officer, executive VP of digital commerce. Wing joins Maurices after 10 years as CEO and founder of giggle, a multichannel retailer, wholesaler and licenser of baby products.

Arlington, Va. – Cooperation among all public- and private-sector stakeholders in the retail industry is needed to ensure cyber security in the face of high-profile retail hacking attacks like the one recently uncovered at Home Depot, according to the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA). Sandy Kennedy, president of RILA, released a public statement on the importance of continuing to improve the security of debit and credit cards.

Long Island City, N.Y. -- The Yankee Candle Company is working with Michael C. Fina on the design and deployment of Yankee Candle’s employee recognition program.

Michael C. Fina is helping Yankee Candle celebrate their employees’ company achievements and milestones, including service anniversaries, with a dedicated recognition program designed to align with Yankee Candle’s corporate goals and unique work culture.

Mahwah, N.J. - Ernest LaPorte has joined Ascena Retail Group Inc. as senior VP/chief accounting officer. LaPorte will oversee Ascena’s accounting, financial reporting and accounting shared service functions.

For the last seven years, LaPorte held the position of senior VP/controller at Saks Inc. Prior to Saks, LaPorte worked at the Movado Group Inc. as VP of finance and principal accounting officer and Barnes & Noble, where he spent six years in finance.

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is reportedly planning to do away with its Wal-Mart Express banner. According to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, an internal corporate memo indicates that Wal-Mart will rebrand its 21 Express stores, which average about 12,000-sq.-ft., to its larger 45,000-sq.-ft. Neighborhood Market banner in the next few months.

Lakewood, Colo. -- Einstein Noah Restaurant Group announced the appointment of Frank G. Paci as president and CEO, effective Sept. 15. Paci succeeds Michael Arthur who has filled the position on an interim basis since February 2014. Arthur will continue to serve as a board director.