Supply Chain & Merchandising

Target Corp. may have shuttered its Canadian stores, but that doesn’t mean the discounter is done with global retailing.

According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Target has expanded a 2014 pilot program that made about 200,000 items available to U.K. customers via eBay to 64 countries. Target is also partnering with international shipping logistics firm Borderfree in a test of a new global e-commerce site, intl.target.com.

Baseball’s great accidental philosopher Yogi Berra once said, “If you don’t know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else.” In the retail business, knowing where you’re going means understanding sales, inventory, promotions, pricing, and assortment.

Francesca's is turning to a merchandising veteran of Kohl's and Macy's to take over as the specialty retailer's new chief merchant.

The company announced it has named Laurie Hummel to the position of executive VP/chief merchandising officer, effective Nov. 30. She will report to Michael W. Barnes, the chairman, president, and CEO. Hummel will lead all merchandising, product development and vendor related supply chain functions.

Home improvement retailer Ace Hardware Corp. is making its POS preferences known.

Ace is officially endorsing Epicor as the POS provider for its 4,800 locally owned cooperative stores around the globe. Today, more than 3,000 Ace Hardware store locations are leveraging the Epicor Eagle retail business management solution.

German discount grocery chain Lidl has broken ground for a new regional U.S. headquarters and distribution center in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.

Easier shopping every day is the value proposition Walmart touting this holiday season as it contends shoppers are tired of pricing games played by other retailers.

As it does every holiday season, Walmart claims it will have low prices on a broad assortment and the hottest holiday items, but it is also touting an improve store experience and a strengthened omnichannel approach.

Just a few weeks after losing its CEO, Tuesday Morning posted impressive financial results for the first quarter, including an increase in same-store sales.

For the first quarter ended Sept. 30, the Texas-based off-price retailer posted a same-store sales increase of 3.6%. Net sales were $202.3 million, slightly higher than the prior year period. The company ended the first quarter with a store count of 757, a decrease of 44 stores year over year. Operating loss for the first quarter was $6 million.

Sporting goods retailer Gander Mountain has installed a new president to lead the company through its next phase of growth.

The company announced that Derek Siddons, executive VP and COO, will assume the role of president on the retirement of current president Michael J. Owens on Oct. 31.