OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

What Retailers Can Learn from Uber’s Playbook
If you were an Uber user in Austin, Texas, this fall, you might have been surprised to see the option to take a horse and buggy instead of a car appear on your smartphone.

The tongue-in-cheek offer was part of Uber’s effort to inform and mobilize customers in its fight against what the company contended were antiquated regulations being considered by local government.
Former lululemon CIO rejoins company as board member
Kathryn Henry is back at lululemon athletica inc., in a new role as a member of the company’s board of directors, a move the company’s founder contends is an important first step to making larger changes.

Grocery veteran named new CEO at Supervalu

Supervalu Inc. has chosen a new leader to take the company forward as it prepares for a potential spin-off of Sav-a-Lot.

On Wednesday the company announced the appointment of Mark Gross as its president and CEO. Gross, 52, will succeed Sam Duncan who has previously announced he will be retiring.
Home Depot embarks on spring hiring spree

The Home Depot is gearing up for the busy spring selling season with the hire of more than $80,000 seasonal employees.

The retailer is hiring for sales, operations and cashier positions across all departments, which range from the lumber aisle to the Pro desk and the outside garden.

Additionally, Store Merchandising Execution Teams are also looking for associates to set up displays, maintain store appearance and keep products customer-ready.
Longtime Genesco president steps down

Genesco Inc. will be on the hunt for a new leader after its longtime president stepped down Tuesday.

The company announced that Genesco senior VP and president Ken Kocher has resigned. Kocher is expected to remain employed by the company in a consulting capacity for up to six months. The company has begun a search for Kocher's successor. In the interim, Genesco chairman, president and CEO Robert J. Dennis will act as the group's president.
Study: Customer experience drives demand for this technology

Consumer demand for more control over their shopping environment is driving growth in one particular technology category.

According to a new study from market research firm Technavio, “Global Self-service Kiosk Market 2016-2020,” the market size of the global self-service kiosk market is predicted to reach close to $18 billion in revenue by 2020. This represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5% between 2016, when the market is expected to be roughly $14 billion, and 2020.
Meijer donates $500,000 to help residents of Flint, Michigan

Meijer is continuing to provide support to Flint with a $500,000 donation to help meet the needs of the city’s residents, who are struggling with contaminated drinking water.

The retailer’s donation will be distributed to three nonprofit organizations that are coordinating a variety of relief efforts related to the ongoing water crisis, including:
Analysis: Why J.C. Penney will win with appliances

Photo: J.C. Penney launched appliances at 22 stores in three test markets this week, including the inviting presentation shown above at a store in Tampa.

Large appliances are back at select J.C. Penney stores after a 30 year hiatus and when – not if – the merchandising initiative is rolled out more broadly the contribution to same store sales growth could be huge.
Kroger elevates two to division president roles

The retirement of Kroger’s Nashville division president Rick Going and the earlier appointment of a new Fred Meyer president gave the supermarket company the opportunity to elevate two other executives.
Target exec joins cybersecurity board

Brad Maiorino, Target senior VP and chief information security officer, is the newest member of the Retail Cyber Intelligence Sharing Center (R-CISC) board of directors.

R-CISC is an organization of more than 50 members representing retail and other consumer-facing companies which provides a network to communicate about cyberthreats and vulnerabilities, and to share best practices in data protection and breach mitigation.