Supply Chain & Merchandising

Despite an increase of 1% in comparable store sales, Dillard’s CEO William T. Dillard II expressed disappointment in the company’s bottom line performance.

The company’s net sales for the 13 weeks ended Aug. 2 were $1.475 billion, compared to net sales of $1.480 billion for the 13 weeks ended Aug. 3, 2013. Net sales include the operations of the company’s construction business, CDI Contractors.

McLean, Va. --  Rappaport has signed three new 7-Eleven deals in the Washington, D.C., area totaling 9,471 sq. ft. of retail space. 7-Eleven will open new locations inside The Shops of Avondale in Washington D.C., 2001 Clarendon Boulevard in Arlington, Virginia, and 6138 Kings Highway in Alexandria, Virginia.
     

Amazon plans to open a fifth California fulfillment center in Redlands. Since opening its first fulfillment center in the state less than two years ago, Amazon has expanded its presence to nearly 5 million sq. ft. Amazon’s other California fulfillment centers are located in San Bernardino, Moreno Valley, Patterson and Tracy.

Walmart met low second quarter sales and profit expectations it set for itself but significantly lowered its full year outlook due to a tepid third quarter sales forecast and increased e-commerce and health care costs.

Framingham, Mass. - Staples Advantage, the business-to-business division of Staples, has launched a Technology Recycling Service. The program, offered in partnership with Electronic Recyclers International Inc. (ERI) allows businesses of all sizes to recycle large volumes of electronics in a secure manner.

Staples Advantage’s new program allows businesses to recycle equipment – from cell phones and keyboards to telecom equipment and multi-function devices – via three steps:

1. Order recycling boxes online.

In the alternative universe where Amazon resides, surging expenses that eat into the company’s profitability are viewed favorably. If Walmart were afforded the same treatment its stock would have surged after it was revealed increased labor, health care and e-commerce costs eroded second quarter profits.

Oak Brook, Ill. – Net income at Ace Hardware Corp. rose 57% to $66.5 million, from $24.2 million. Revenues climbed 13% to $1.33 billion, from $1.17 billion.

Following Walgreens' announcement last week about taking the next step in acquiring Alliance Boots, Alex Gourlay, EVP Walgreens Boots Alliance and president of Walgreens, announced changes in the company's operational organization structure in a letter to Walgreens employees.