Supply Chain & Merchandising

Specialty apparel retailer True Religion has found something to connect the physical to the virtual. The Manhattan Beach, California-based chain, which operates about 900 stores globally, has launched an e-commerce site that links its customer experience across channels.

Retailers wondering how much of an issue e-commerce returns are may not like the answer.

According to a new infographic from returns management software provider TrueShip, E-commerce returns are both prevalent and frequently the fault of the retailer.

TrueShip data shows that about one-third of all products purchased online are returned by consumers. Of these returns, almost one-quarter (23%) are due to the wrong item being shipped. Another 22% of e-commerce returns results from a product looking and appearing different when it arrives than it did online.

Jill Stanton was named interim president of Old Navy after the top executive at Gap Inc.’s fastest growing division left the company to become CEO of Ralph Lauren.

Nordstrom plans to relocate its Nordstrom Rack store from 280 Metro Center to the redeveloped Serramonte Center in Daly City, California.

The approximately 40,000-sq.ft. store is scheduled to open in fall 2017. The redeveloped property is owned by Equity One.

Nordstrom will join fellow anchors Target, JC Penney, Macy's and Dick's Sporting Goods. The new location is just across Highway 280 from the current Nordstrom Rack.

Academy Sports and Outdoors named former Meijer president James Kevin Symancyk to the role of president and CEO in a move that suggests the retailers private equity owners could be eyeing a public stock offering.

Symancyk, 43, will assume his new responsibilities on Nov. 2, when current president and CEO Rodney Faldyn steps down after 10 years with the operator of more than 200 large format, full line sporting goods stores.

Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) is launching a wide-ranging corporate growth and efficiency initiative, with omnichannel technology at the center.  Building on its purchase of Saks Inc. in 2013, HBC seeks to deliver an enhanced omnichannel customer experience, accelerate financial performance and drive future success.

Englewood Construction has started working on three new ground-up retail projects.

The national general contractor is building a Hobby Lobby in Beavercreek, Ohio; a PetSmart in Taylor, Michigan; and a Goodwill in Monroe, Connecticut.

Englewood recently broke ground on a 55,000-sq.-ft. ground-up Hobby Lobby store in Beavercreek, Ohio. Slated for completion by the end of January 2016, the project will use tilt-up construction of masonry embossed panels. Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Robert Michael Hughes is the project architect.

Walmart has extended its grocery pick up service to eight additional markets and is alluding to the possibility of a more significant roll out in the months ahead.