Supply Chain & Merchandising

Reston, Va. -- Nearly one-half (44%) of retailers used more than five mobile business applications in 2014, while 82% of retailers were able to build a mobile business app in one day or less, according to the “2nd Annual Mobile Business Application Survey” of business and IT decision makers by Canvas.

Among the key survey findings:

Columbus, Ohio -- DSW Inc. received the "Best Omni-Channel Experience Award" at the eBay Enterprise's annual Imagine Commerce Conference held in Las Vegas. The award recognizes retailers and brands who deliver exceptional omnichannel customer experience through innovation, creativity and growth.

DSW Inc. has been on a win streak lately, with growing profits and store counts. Now the retailer has notched another win, this time for its excellence in omnichannel retailing.

With retailers and CPG companies continuing to struggle with in-store execution issues like on-shelf availability, inventory and promotions, leading supply chain analytics and insights provider Orchestro asked industry thought leaders to weigh in on the three key questions.

Go to the Orchestro article by clicking here.

New York -- Borderfree, a provider of cross-border e-commerce services, announced that it signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by Pitney Bowes Inc. for $14 per share in cash, or approximately $395 million. The acquisition comes as Pitney Bowes looks to expand more into software and digital-commerce services.

Toronto -- Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th has announced its first three store locations in Canada as it prepares to enter the Canadian marketplace next year.

The retailer will open stores in Tanger Outlets, Kanata (a suburb of Ottawa); Outlet Collection at Niagara, Niagara-on-the-Lake; and Vaughan Mills, Vaughan (just north of Toronto) in spring 2016. The three stores are the first of up to 25 locations that Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th plans to open nationwide.

Whole Foods Market set another sales record in the second quarter – but that’s not enough for the grocery chain, which announced it is launching a new store concept targeted to the Millennial shopper.

London -- Retailers worldwide lose a staggering $1.75 trillion annually due to the cost of overstocks, out-of-stocks and needless returns, according to new research from retail analyst firm IHL Group, commissioned by OrderDynamics.