Supply Chain & Merchandising

New York -- Toys “R” Us’ holiday 2012 plans include a “hot toy” reservation program, free and expanded layaway services and offering more exclusive toys from branded manufacturers along with more proprietary products. The nation’s largest specialty toy retailer also will open 150 to 200 temporary locations for the holidays under the Toys “R” Us Express banner.

New York -- Ritz Camera & Image LLC plans to go out of business after 94 years and close its remaining 137 stores after it failed in a bankruptcy auction to find a buyer to keep the camera chain afloat, the Chicago Tribune reported.

U.S. bankruptcy judge Kevin Gross in Wilmington, Del., approved a plan to turn over most of Ritz's assets to Gordon Brothers Retail Partners LLC and Hilco Merchant Resources LLC.

Thorofare, N.J. -- Supply chain solution-provider Checkpoint Systems said Wednesday it has been chosen by Tesco to implement a global EAS program to improve on-shelf availability of products, open merchandising and the consumer shopping experience.

WAYNE, N.J. — Get them in early and often seems to be the motto for Toys”R”Us this year, as the toy retailer is hoping new initiatives will encourage customers shop for holiday toys well before December.

Atlanta -- First Data Corp. reported Wednesday that consumers responded well to back-to-school and summer clearance sales in August, prompting an increase in August same-store consumer spending by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT, closed-loop prepaid cards and checks at U.S. merchant locations.

San Jose, Calif. -- Orchard Supply Hardware Stores Corp. reported Tuesday a loss of $26.7 million for the quarter ended July 28, compared with net income of $3.9 million in the year-ago period. The results include write-offs and charges related to real estate sale-leaseback transactions.

Sales dipped to $194.1 million from $196.4 million, and same-store sales edged up 0.9%.

Bangladesh, India -- A Tuesday report by Reuters said that the Indian joint venture of Wal-Mart Stores and Bharti Enterprises has announced plans to open three to five cash-and-carry/wholesale stores in India by the end of the year.

The partnership currently operates 17 wholesale stores in India. 

Foreign ownership regulations in India do not allow global hypermarket and supermarket chains to open retail stores in the country, but they are allowed to operate wholesale operations.