Walmart

New York - Enabling shoppers to buy an item online and pick it up in a local store (BOPIS) is supposed to be a means of offering additional customer convenience. But according to a new study from business analytics firm StellaService, for BOPIS shoppers, 58% of their time in-store is spent at the checkout desk (3.1 minutes on average).    For context, the checkout process for in-store shoppers is more expedient, representing only 15% of their in-store time (1.1 minutes).  

Bentonville, Ark. – Minimum wage increases scheduled to take effect in 24 states and Washington, D.C. will affect employees at more than 1,400 Wal-Mart stores and 200 Sam’s Club in the U.S. According to CNN, Wal-Mart said it has less than 6,000 employees currently earning the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour and has already been planning to pay all employees more than the federal minimum wage.  

As 2014 draws to a close, it’s time to look back on another year of technological disruption in retail. While many solutions, applications and tools played a role in changing how retailers use technology in their business, three developments in particular stood out. Two of them did not actually launch in 2014, but this was the year they truly achieved their disruptive potential. So read on, and have a happy, prosperous and innovative New Year!   ApplePay

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart is offering an online gift card exchange called CardCash.com that will offer consumers up to 97% of the face value of another retailer’s gift card in the form of a Wal-Mart e-gift card. The retailer has set up a site where customers can enter the card number, PIN and some basic personal information so it can verify card balance before making an offer.  

Female executives make their mark on the world of retail IT

It’s no secret that neither the retail industry nor the technology industry has exactly achieved parity when it comes to granting women access to top-level decision-making positions. According to a report from IIC Partners, 64% of retailers said their senior executive team was less than 25% female — despite the fact that women drive a whopping 85% of all consumer purchases.

Women are famously underrepresented in technology.

Teen and pre-teen retailer Five Below landed two senior executives from Walmart.com and Ascena Retail Group for key roles as it looks to accelerate an already rapid pace of growth.

Walmart.com president and CEO Joel Anderson will join Five Below as president in July to oversee all aspects of merchandising, stores and marketing. Eric Specter, most recently EVP and chief integration officer for Ascena, will serve as Five Below’s chief administrative officer and oversee supply chain, information technology and real estate.

RadioShack’s former marketing chief is joining At Home, the Texas-based home decor chain.

"Jennifer's retail experience coupled with her strong agency background will serve her well in her new role," said Lee Bird, CEO of At Home. "We're thrilled to have added an executive with her prowess to our growing team."

Warren most recently held the position of CMO for RadioShack, where she was responsible for leading the marketing, consumer insights, private brand strategy, public relations and omnichannel teams.

Plano, Texas - Home décor superstore retailer At Home has appointed Jennifer Warren as its new chief marketing officer.  Warren most recently held the same position for Radio Shack, where she was responsible for leading the marketing, consumer insights, private brand strategy, public relations and omnichannel teams.