News

Study: Omnichannel, Amazon “effect” impact retail supply chain
Increased customer expectations for a seamless front-end experience, as well as the “Amazon effect,” are having a significant influence on retailers’ back-end systems and operations.

According to a new study of 24 senior retail supply chain executives from Auburn University’s Center for Supply Chain Innovation, the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and Checkpoint Systems, “The State of the Retail Supply Chain,” 81% of respondents are either using, developing or investigating integrated demand planning.
Pier 1 profit, sales down in Q4; looks to regain footing in 2016
Promotions, markdowns and supply chain issues took a toll on Pier in the fourth quarter as the retailer lower profits on declining sales. But the results were better than earlier projections and executives expressed confidence in the chain’s turnaround efforts.

Pier 1’s sales declined 1.4% to $542.3 million in the quarter ended Feb. 27; same store sales fell 0.6%. Net income was $18.7 million, down from $33.1 million in the year-ago period.

Accenture names former Oracle exec as head of retail

Jill Standish
Jill Standish has joined Accenture Consulting and been named senior managing director, retail. As the head of Accenture’s retail practice, Standish will focus on the business strategy and ongoing development and execution of retail industry strategy for clients. She will also manage the company’s retail industry client portfolio.
Accenture names former Oracle exec as head of retail

Jill Standish
Jill Standish has joined Accenture Consulting and been named senior managing director, retail. As the head of Accenture’s retail practice, Standish will focus on the business strategy and ongoing development and execution of retail industry strategy for clients. She will also manage the company’s retail industry client portfolio.
Pier 1 regains footing in 2016, eyes improved profits

Pier 1 shrank its store base and e-commerce penetration reached record levels during the company’s fourth quarter, a period in which profitability was marred by promotions, markdowns and supply chain issues.
Old Navy taps Gap’s supply chief as president

Gap Inc. has named a longtime member of its executive team to head up its Old Navy brand.

The retailer appointed Sonia Syngal as global president of Old Navy, effective immediately, as it looks to reenergize its value-driven brand. She succeeds Stefan Larsson, who left last year to become CEO of Ralph Lauren Corp.

Syngal, a 12-year Gap veteran, most recently served as executive VP of global supply chain and product operations for Gap Inc.
Study: Retail fraud up sharply

Both the volume of and monetary losses caused by fraudulent transactions have sharply increased in the past year.

According to the “2016 True Cost of Fraud Report” from LexisNexis Risk Solutions, the monthly average of fraudulent transactions has increased 32% to 206 from 156 in 2015. In addition, the monthly average of prevented fraudulent transactions has risen 33% to 236 from 177.
Study: Retail fraud on the rise

Both the volume of and monetary losses caused by fraudulent transactions have sharply increased in the past year. According to the “2016 True Cost of Fraud Report” from LexisNexis Risk Solutions, the monthly average of fraudulent transactions has increased 32% to 206 from 156 in 2015. In addition, the monthly average of prevented fraudulent transactions has risen 33% to 236 from 177.
Supermarket chains among nation’s most trusted companies

Publix, Chick-fil-A, Amazon.com, H-E-B, and BJ's Wholesale Club are the nation’s most trusted retailers, according to an annual survey by the Temkin Group.

The “2016 Temkin Trust Ratings,” based on a study of 10,000 U.S consumers, benchmarks the level of trust that consumers have with 294 companies across 20 industries.
Study: Omnichannel, Amazon impact retail supply chain

Increased customer expectations for a seamless front-end experience, as well as the “Amazon effect,” are having a significant influence on retailers’ back-end systems and operations.

According to a new study of 24 senior retail supply chain executives from Auburn University’s Center for Supply Chain Innovation, the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and Checkpoint Systems, “The State of the Retail Supply Chain,” 81% of respondents are either using, developing or investigating integrated demand planning.