Supply Chain & Merchandising

Bentonville, Ark. – Starting Sept. 21, consumers will be able to receive immediate credit toward the purchase of a new smartphone when they trade in their current smartphone at more than 3,600 participating Wal-Mart stores and Sam's Club locations across the U.S. Wal-Mart's trade-in program offers an immediate credit from $50 to $300 for more than 100 smartphones.

Pittsburgh – Cabela’s Inc. has seen improvement in throughput and saved on operating costs since implementing the use of Seegrid’s unmanned robotic pallet trucks at its Wheeling, W.Va., distribution center in July 2010. The retailer has used Seegrid robots to reduce manned long haul transports, handle a high variety of product flow and provide flexibility to change routes.

 New York - Wayne Kulkin, former vice chairman of Stuart Weitzman, has been appointed CEO of the company, effective immediately. Kulkin will continue to report to Stuart Weitzman, executive chairman of Stuart Weitzman.

"Wayne has been a true partner over the last 23 years,” said Weitzman. “His passion, creativity and business acumen have been essential in driving our growth across diverse channels, and I am confident that Wayne will be equally instrumental in his new role as CEO.”

Old Bridge, N.J. — Dollar Tree has retained R.J. Brunelli & Co. as exclusive leasing agent for all of New Jersey, adding areas south of Route 195 to the northern and central parts of the state that the firm has been handling all along.

Philadelphia – The Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack has acquired 17 Discount Tire Centers in Southern California from AKH Co. These 17 stores are located throughout the greater Los Angeles market, from Bakersfield to Orange County.

SAN FRANCISCO — Shutl, a same-day and same-hour delivery platform, has appointed John Kelly as the company’s EVP of retail. In his role, Kelly will be responsible for recruiting leading multichannel retailers to Shutl's same-day and same-hour delivery platform on a global scale.

Greensboro, N.C. – The Fresh Market has named Randall A. Young as its senior VP real estate and development effective Sept. 30. Young, 56, will oversee the company's real estate and development functions including market strategy development, site selection, store design, construction, store relocations and renovations.

Young most recently served as VP, real estate at Advance Auto Parts. He has also held a variety of real estate and construction roles at McDonald's Corporation, among other companies.

Philadelphia -- Five Below saw net income surge to $4.1 million for the quarter ended August 3, up from $1.2 million in the year-ago period. Sales climbed 34.9% to $117.1 million from $86.8 million, and same-store sales increased 6.6%. The company had, by the quarter’s end, opened 32 of its previously announced 60 new stores on tap for 2013.