Supply Chain & Merchandising

Nashville, Tenn. -- IHL Group has added a noted retail technology analyst with nearly 30 years of experience to its ranks.

Jeff Roster is joining IHL in the new position of VP of retail strategy. He will oversee IHL's retailer engagement, vendor briefings and strategic IT services practice.

Chicago – As grocery shoppers’ lives keep getting busier, Ahold’s online grocery delivery service Peapod keeps trying to make shopping easier.

Peapod has completely redesigned its mobile and tablet app, with larger, high-resolution photos and a host of new features designed to streamline and simplify online shopping.

Washington, D.C. – Kids may be unhappy about back-to-school season, but importers are surely thrilled.

Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 7.3% in July 2015 month from the same time last year as retailers stock up for the busy back-to-school season, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates.

Hartland, Wis. – Battery, lightbulb and smartphone/tablet repair franchise Batteries Plus Bulbs is expanding its omnichannel experience — and that includes its physical store portfolio.

The company has launched a new e-commerce site, with a new and improved infrastructure, that ties its online presence more tightly to its nationwide network of more than 650 stores. And as part of its omnichannel growth strategy, Batteries Plus Bulbs plans to open 50 new locations across the country in 2015.

BJ's Wholesale Club is forming a new partnership with Toshiba as the retailer accelerates its efforts to drive member loyalty and sales.

BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc. says it has selected Toshiba TCxCare to manage and be the single point of contact for “wall to wall” maintenance services at its 200 stores.

Photo: Central Valley Marketplace, Ceres, California

New York -- The Container Store may have exceeded the expectations it set for itself in the first quarter, but its results were decidedly mixed.

The company lost $5.2 million, or 11 cents a share in the first quarter, compared to a loss of $3.6 million, or seven cents a share, the prior year. The retailer had forecast a loss between 12 cents and 14 cents and analysts pegged the number at 13 cents.
 
Total sales declined 2.1% to $169.8 million in part because of a $5.2 million foreign exchange headwind.

Irving, Texas - Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has always lived by the motto “Be Prepared,” and that spirit extends to its in-store retail activities.

The youth organization has selected Raymark's store management software suite for deployment in its 182 Scout Shops, 220 independent Council Shops, High Adventure Trading Posts and temporary Scout sales locations.