Supply Chain & Merchandising

The concept of mobile first has been around for a while – most notably when Eric Schmidt announced Google would focus on ‘mobile first’ back in 2010. However, the concept still means different things to many different people.

It’s not far-fetched to say that mobile technologies have permeated our lives. You no longer go online, you are online and you carry it around in your pocket. Just like Dr. Michio Kaku says, “Today, your cell phone has more computer power than all of NASA back in 1969, when it placed two astronauts on the moon."

Retail intelligence provider ChannelIQ helps brands cope with e-commerce complexity and it just bolstered its ability to do so with a key hire from the consumer packaged goods world.

Minneapolis -- Best Buy is moving further ahead in its quest to make shopping across platforms as easy as possible for consumers.

The retailer, in partnership with American Express, has integrated new technology that allows Amex card members enrolled in the Amex Membership Rewards program to use their points for online purchases on BestBuy.com.

Proving that no niche is too small when it comes to e-commerce, a new web store has been created to serve the narrowest of consumer needs.

DIYGarageDoorParts.com, a company that is devoted to helping people fix their own garage doors, has just expanded their selection of garage door parts. Thanks to newly-added parts, which are available through the website, people who want to repair their garage door now have even more options.

Austin, Texas -- The importance of technology is highlighted in a promotion at Whole Foods Market.

Whole Foods has promoted Jason Buechel from global VP to executive VP and CIO. As an executive VP, he is now a member of the executive management team at the company.

Saks Fifth Avenue is putting its best foot forward in a hot category.

The retailer plans to open its first-ever stand-alone 10022-SHOE store in Greenwich, Conn. Expected to open in fall 2016, the new 14,000 square-foot location at 20 East Elm Street will be dedicated to women’s footwear and will be just a short distance from the existing Saks Fifth Avenue location in downtown Greenwich.

New York -- Foot Locker has named a digital head from Target Corp. to head up its technology efforts.

The specialty athletic retailer named Pawan Verma as senior VP and CIO, effective Aug. 10. He joins Foot Locker from Target, where he has worked since 2013, most recently serving as VP, digital and marketing technologies and services platforms.

Verma succeeds Peter Brown, who retired in April after 38 years with the company.

New York -- The Association for Retail Environments is bullish on the future.

The organization is predicting good days ahead for the U.S. economy in general and retail construction in particular. According to A.R.E.’s economic advisors, all indicators show that the 2016 economy in the U.S. will grow faster than it did in 2015. And while economic growth will slow in the back half of 2015, it will not be negative.