Human Resources

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings announced that both Sears and Kmart stores will be open on Thanksgiving Day. The company said its made the decision based in part on feedback from members of its Shop Your Way loyalty program, who sought more flexible Black Friday in-store shopping times and eagerness to shop doorbuster deals.

NCR Corporation got a big order from Walmart this week that will allow the retailer to expand its self-checkout capability and potentially attract shoppers turned off by Walmart’s long checkout lines.

NCR said it would be installing 10,000 of its SelfServ Checkout lanes in more than 1,200 Walmart stores. That works out to about eight self checkouts per store, although the companies didn’t provide details concerning Walmart’s installed base of self-checkouts.

The opening of the first CityTarget in Chicago was a big deal this summer, but next fall an even bigger development is coming to an area just a few miles further north.

OAKLAND, Calif. — The Clorox Co. on Tuesday announced that COO Lawrence Peiros, 57, will retire from the company effective April 1, 2013.

Peiros, who joined Clorox in 1980 as a summer intern, was appointed a member of the company's executive committee in 1999 and then to the COO role in 2007. He also oversees the marketing, sales, research & development and product supply functions as well as Clorox's Eco office.

WAYNE, N.J. — The Toys"R"Us Children's Fund has pledged a $500,000 donation to Save the Children, a global humanitarian organization, to support its initial work and assessment of needs for children and families in evacuation shelters. These funds will also help the organization distribute much-needed items, including hygiene kits, diapers, and baby wipes.

Commerce, Mich. -- Health and wellness retailer LaVida Massage said Tuesday it will have opened at least 13 new franchised units before the end of 2012. Another eight are slated to open in early 2013.

LaVida currently operates 45 centers nationwide. 

Our rapid expansion continues to yield strong results for LaVida, despite a struggling economy,” said Evan Kaltschmidt, COO.

The new centers are located in California, Georgia, Illinois (2), Michigan (3), New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens said Tuesday that it is beginning its recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. The retailer said that it is working to provide its stores with what they need to again serve customers in areas impacted by the storm.

By noon ET on Tuesday, the number of Walgreens stores closed dropped to 530 with more re-opening by the hour, from a peak of about 750 stores closed during the height of the storm.

New York -- In a surprise announcement on Tuesday, Apple Inc. said its retail senior VP John Browett abruptly left the company on Monday. Another senior-ranking staffer iOS software senior VP Scott Forstall, will exit next year.