Distribution

Anna's Linens has hired Hilco Merchant Resources and Gordon Brothers Group to begin going-out-of-business sales at all retail locations.

The joint venture partners were awarded the store closing process by a U.S. bankruptcy court on June 18.

With sales of its online channel approaching $4 billion, the Home Depot is heavily engaged in making goods flow through that channel more smoothly.

New York - Fashion retailer Rent the Runway has hired industry veteran Chris Halkyard as the company's first chief logistics officer, effective Aug. 1. In his role, Halkyard will oversee Rent the Runway's logistics platform, including the company's proprietary reverse-logistics operations and transportation network.

A disruption in product flow because of the West Coast port dispute led to a drop in same store sales for Hancock Fabrics in the first quarter.

The company had net sales of $61.7 million for the first quarter ended May 2, compared to $63 million in the first quarter of the prior year. Same store sales declined by 1.9%.

Designer clothing and accessories retailer Rent the Runway’s business is dependent on an advanced reverse logistics and transportation network, which is why the company just hired a leading logistic executive from an online competitor.

New York-based Rent the Runway named Chris Halkyard its first ever chief logistics officer to oversee the company’s just-in-time reverse logistics and vertically integrated operating systems.

Wayne, N.J. — Toys ‘R Us Inc. has opened a new distribution center in Saint-Fargeau-Ponthierry, France to support the company's expanding e-commerce business throughout France and in select sections of Europe. The 550,000-sq.-ft. facility will service retail distribution to the country's 48 store locations and e-commerce operations throughout France.

Seattle — Amazon.com is reportedly expanding the assortment of items eligible for free two-day shipping for members of its Prime paid subscription. According to the Wall Street Journal, Amazon is now listing items shipped directly from third-party seller warehouses for free Prime two-day shipping, without any publicity.

New York — Authentic Brands Group LLC (ABG) , whose brands include Jones New York and Juicy Couture, has closed on its purchase of Frederick's of Hollywood Group for an undisclosed sum. Previous reports indicated the acquisition agreement, announced in April 2015, was for $22.5 million.

Stores are once again the darlings of retail — even e-commerce pure plays are scrambling to establish brick-and-mortar locations, while established brands are busy exploring new ways to leverage their existing physical footprint. Many predicted that the store would survive — and indeed thrive — but few realized the full degree to which stores would become a coveted link within today’s customer-driven “commerce anywhere” shopping experience.

Efforts to transform the customer experience and optimize e-commerce capabilities at Toys”R”Us are getting a boost in Europe with a new distribution center.

The retailer says it has completed a new distribution center in Saint-Fargeau-Ponthierry, France, to support the company's rapidly expanding e-commerce business throughout the country and in select sections of Europe.