OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

Ann Arbor, Mich. -- A Wednesday report by Detroit News said that Borders Group Inc. has appointed turnaround specialist Ojas Shah as its CFO to lead the company toward final liquidation.

Shah has been a director of Alix Partners, the firm providing financial restructuring and bankruptcy services to Borders.

Borders, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February, is slated to close all stores effective Sunday, Sept. 18.

San Francisco -- Williams-Sonoma and Barclaycard announced Thursday a new co-branded Visa credit card and loyalty program, allowing cardholders to earn points redeemable for culinary-themed awards and enjoy a wide range of perks.

 

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Thursday by Bloomberg said that U.S. consumer confidence held last week at the second-lowest level of 2011 as the highest number of households in three years said it was a bad time to spend.
 
The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index was minus 49.3 in the period to Sept. 11, near the 2011 low of minus 49.4 reached in May. The buying climate gauge slumped to the lowest level since October 2008.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores said Wednesday that its technology unit, @WalmartLabs, has acquired Boulder, Colo.-based mobile and social advertising firm OneRiot.

OneRiot’s technology will become part of WalmartLabs’ mobile and social shopping efforts, allowing the retailer to hone its social media skills and develop a variety of shopping and retail-related applications.
 

Springfield, Mass. -- Big Y Supermarkets plans to get rid of self-checkouts in all of its 61 stores by the end of 2011.

Portland, Ore. -- Daily deal site LivingSocial said Tuesday that it has reached new records with its first nationwide grocery deal, implemented with Whole Foods Market.

The debut deal offered shoppers $20 worth of products at Whole Foods for $10.

New York City -- Saks has named Denise Incandela to the newly created role of chief marketing officer for Saks Fifth Avenue.

Incandela, who joined Saks Fifth Avenue in 1999, will continue as president of Saks Direct.
 

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores on Wednesday launched initiatives intended, it says, to help women around the globe in the next five years.

The retailer has spent the last year developing a plan -- with help from both governmental and non-governmental organizations and philanthropic groups -- which will direct $20 billion over a five- year period on goods and services from U.S. businesses owned by women, as well as double the amount it pays women-run suppliers overseas.