OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

Retail jobs dip slightly in July
The retail industry lost jobs in July. Retail industry employment declined slightly in July, decreasing 1,700 jobs from June, according to the National Retail Federation. On a three-month average, retail jobs have decreased by 4,200 jobs as calculated by NRF. (The numbers exclude automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants.) On a positive note, the economy overall saw gains of 209,000 jobs in July, exceeding growth expectations for the month.
Can Retailers Keep Employees’ Contact Information Private?
Retailers sued in class or representative actions for alleged wage-and-hour violations often object to discovery requests that seek the contact information (names, addresses, etc.) of their employees — the rationale being that such information is private and burdensome to collect and should not be disclosed unless there is reason to believe that the alleged unlawful practices occurred in locations other than just the named plaintiff’s store.

FedEx pivots in holiday shipping charges — except in some instances

FedEx is giving its customers an early holiday gift — while taking a stab at its rival UPS. The delivery service announced that it will forego additional surcharges on deliveries this holiday season — unless packages require additional handling, are oversized or unauthorized. FedEx made the decision based on the growing volume of large packages moving through the FedEx Ground network during the holidays.
Study: Even mature retailers miss the mark on unified commerce

Despite retailers’ efforts to deliver sophisticated shopping experiences, crucial gaps between digital and in-store touchpoints still exist. That's according to “The State of Omnichannel Commerce: A Mystery Shopping Study.” The report, from Kibo, assessed the personalization and omnichannel sophistication across 30 popular and growing retailers’ desktop, mobile and in-store buying touchpoints.
Amazon’s operations are shaping up Down Under

Amazon’s Australian online store is one step closer to launching. In addition to announcing the site of its first Australian warehouse, the online giant also named a German executive as its country manager. Both moves indicate that Amazon is preparing to launch its online store in the world's 12th-biggest economy, according to Reuters.
Job-seekers out in full force for online giant's multi-state job fair

Thousands nationwide turned out Wednesday for the chance to join Amazon’s growing workforce. The online giant hosted a multi-state job fair on Aug. 2, focused on hiring full-time and part-time associates for positions across nearly a dozen of its U.S.-based warehouses. The event had such a massive turnout that Amazon said it received "a record-breaking 20,000 applications,” according to CNBC. This is almost half of the 50,000 roles the company says it has available across its fulfillment network.
Bed, Bath & Beyond in workforce reduction

The ax has fallen at Bed, Bath & Beyond as part of the realignment of its .store management structure. The retailer said it has initiated in approximately half of its U.S. Bed Bath & Beyond stores and about a dozen of its buybuy Baby stores a limited realignment of its store management organization that will result in the elimination of about 880 department and assistant store manager positions.
Regional furniture retailer modernizes front-end

City Furniture sales associates are moving away from the cashwrap, and completing transactions directly on the show floor.
Q&A: Boxed co-founder talks about machine learning

Driven by the need “to solve problems for its shoppers,” Boxed is about to make it easier than ever for customers to reorder merchandise — without even having to think about it.
Discounter adds new hiring academy

Walmart is making good on its promise to open 200 learning centers by year’s end. The discounter is planning to open another employee training academy. The new location, which will be in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is expected to open by end of 2017, according to the Argus Leader, a division of USA Today.