OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

Chicago -- Despite all of the hype surrounding mobile commerce, just 36% of chief marketing officers at retail companies have included mobile in their holiday marketing strategies this year, according to a recent BDO USA survey. And of the CMOs incorporating mobile, 84% say it accounts for less than 10% of their holiday marketing efforts. The findings are from the most recent edition of the BDO Retail Compass Survey of CMOs, which examined the opinions of 100 chief marketing officers at leading retailers located throughout the country.

Albany, N.Y. -- Trans World Entertainment Corp. announced it has named Tom Seaver as CFO, effective immediately.

Seaver, most recently held the position of VP – strategic planning and previously held the position of VP – finance global PMC.

Lewisville, Texas -- Parago, a leading provider of consumer and corporate incentives, announced the launch of a promotional fulfillment service offering designed to reward and communicate to clients’ Spanish-speaking customers in their language of preference.

Indianapolis -- The Finish Line said Tuesday that its chief administrative officer and corporate secretary Gary D. Cohen, will retire from the company effective March 29, 2012.

Cohen will step down effective December 1, but will remain with the company during a transition period ending March 29, 2012.

Cohen, 59, has been with Finish Line since 1997, first serving as general counsel and later in his current role.
 

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Tuesday by the Conference Board showed that consumer confidence experienced its biggest gain in more than eight years, jumping to 56 in November from a revised 40.9 reading in the month prior. The leap was the biggest since April 2003 and exceeded the most optimistic forecast by Bloomberg News.

The improvement in consumer attitude may help sustain household purchases, which account for about 70% of the economy, after sales climbed on both Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Coppell, Texas -- CiCi's Pizza said Tuesday it has partnered with strategic site modeling company Birchwood Resultants to add another 500 restaurants in the next eight to 10 years.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens said Tuesday it has introduced online ordering and in-store pickup at 70+ stores in the Indianapolis market, with some stores offering curbside delivery.

The new Web Pickup service throughout the Indianapolis area is the second full market rollout for the service, which enables consumers to shop online at Walgreens.com and pick up orders at a Walgreens store in as little as an hour. The service is also currently available throughout Chicago and at a number of stores in San Jose, Calif.

New York City -- Online sales on Cyber Monday were up 33% over 2010, with shopping peaks occurring at 2:05 p.m. EST, according to IBM’s fourth annual Cyber Monday Benchmark study. The average ticket increased 2.6% to $198.26, compared with $193.24 last year.

Among other key Cyber Monday Benchmark findings: