Supply Chain & Merchandising

By definition, successful retailers are very good at logistics.    

“Compared with other industries, retailers are a benchmark of logistical efficiency for moving items through their distribution channels and on to shelves in a timely way,” said Jim Griffin, senior VP sales, PODS, whose detached delivery system allows placement of containers in tough-to-reach and hard-to-fit locations.
    
Griffin spoke with Chain Store Age about how logistics efficiency can add to a retailer’s bottom line.
    
What are some of the most

Detroit – Office and school supply e-commerce retailer Chalkfly has launched a redesigned, fully responsive website that leverages SLI Systems search technology. Chalkfly’s use of SLI’s intuitive site search functionality enables customers to quickly and easily find and purchase items amid more than 60,000 products in office and school supply categories.  

New York – Profit and revenue for Tiffany & Co. exceeded Wall Street predictions during the second quarter of fiscal 2014. Net earnings rose 16% to $124 million from $107 million in the second quarter of the previous fiscal year, which the retailer attributed to worldwide net sales growth and gross margin improvements.

Worldwide net sales increased 7% to $992.9 million, from $925.9 million. Strong performance in the colored diamond and statement jewelry categories helped drive sales.

Fort Worth Texas – Hedge fund Standard General LP, RadioShack’s second-largest shareholder, is reportedly trying to negotiate a “rescue package” by obtaining debt and equity financing from outside investors. According Bloomberg, Standard General is also meeting with RadioShack management to create a plan that will let the retailer avoid filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Marina Del Rey, Calif. -- Guidance, an e-commerce design and development agency, announced the launch of a responsive website for Gearys Beverly Hills, which specializes in fine china, crystal, silver, gifts, jewelry, and watches.

Guidance provided e-commerce, mobile & responsive design, UX consulting, web development, integration, and hosting & managed services for the new site built on the Magento Enterprise 1.13 platform.

Minneapolis -- Best Buy Co. earned $146 million in the second quarter, down from $266 million in the year-ago period, topping analysts earnings estimates even as its revenue fell short. Its results were helped by ongoing cost reductions. Best Buy cut $40 million in annual costs last quarter, bringing the total to $900 million.

For the quarter ended Aug. 3, revenue dropped to $8.89 billion from $9.27 billion. Analysts had expected $8.99 billion. Same-store sales fell 2.7%, which was more than analysts had expected.

Atlanta – Customers of real estate management software provider Yardi can now have access to thousands of The Home Depot products either in store or online with a click of a button via the online procurement system offered with Yardi Procure to Pay, a fully automated end-to-end procurement and invoice processing platform.

Sebring, Fla. -- BV Belk Properties has retained JLL Retail to manage and lease Lakeshore Mall, a 490,000-sq.-ft. retail center located in Sebring, Florida. The mall was built in 1992, and is the only enclosed regional mall within 40 miles of Sebring.
 
“I see nothing but a good future for Lakeshore Mall, and I am thrilled at the opportunity to take a steady center and make it extraordinary for locals and passer-byes with the support of JLL,” said B.V. Belk Jr., owner of BV Belk Properties.