OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

Report: How ready are U.S. retailers for EMV? Not very.
The overwhelming majority of merchants are not ready for the shift to EMV.

Only 27% of U.S. merchants will be EMV-ready by the October 1st liability shift, down from the 34% estimated in March, according to a survy by The Strawhecker Group (TSG).

By December 2015, 44% of U.S. merchants are expected to adopt EMV, however EMV-readiness will not reach a threshold of least 90% until 2017— more than 15 months after the shift.
Walmart details seasonal hiring plans
More associates working more hours to elevate the customer experience is the pledge Walmart COO Judith McKenna is making to holiday shoppers this season.

The day after Kohl’s, Toys “R” Us and UPS announced ambitious holiday hiring plans, Walmart said it would add 60,000 seasonal workers after giving existing workers the opportunity to pick up extra hours.

Toys 'R' Us, Kohl's look to fill more than 100,000 holiday jobs

Toys “R” Us and Kohl’s are among the first retailers to announce their holiday hiring plans this year, and the numbers are more or less the same as last year for both companies.

Toys “R” Us plans to hire 40,000 employees at its stores and distribution centers throughout the country (about 5,000 less than last year). The retailer also plans to allow seasonal workers the opportunity to take on significantly more hours than in previous years, while also continuing to provide extra hours to current employees.
UPS braces for the holidays with big seasonal hiring plans

It is the season before the season when retailer revelations about plans to hire temporary workers offer insight into holiday expectations. One of the best indicators of what to expect this Christmas comes courtesy of UPS.

UPS said it plans to hire between 90,000 and 95,000 seasonal employees (about the same as last year) to support the anticipated increase in package volume that will begin in November and continue through January 2016.
National Labor Relations Board ‘Joint Employer’ Stipulation Could Change Franchisor Model

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is questioning whether to use a broader definition of the term “joint employer,” a move that could bring sweeping changes to the restaurant and retail/wholesale franchisor model. Whether a large fast-food company exhibited more control than it should have over its franchisees was the most recent catalyst for the proposed change, but several earlier cases have challenged the more than 30-year-old standard for determining joint employment.
NRF: Chip-and-signature not cutting it with customers

While the financial industry is supporting the use of chip-and-signature cards to meet the upcoming Oct. 1 EMV mandate, consumers are less convinced.

According to a new survey released by the National Retail Federation (NRF), 62% of U.S. consumers believe new credit cards being issued by banks don’t go far enough to protect card data or prevent fraud.
Consumers Want it Now — But When Will Retailers Deliver?

Today’s consumer is driven by an “I want it now” mentality, yet retailers are still not prepared to deliver. Reducing the time it takes an order to arrive at a customer’s home is every retailer’s objective, but while quicker fulfillment makes customers happy, it comes at a cost.
Retail’s $30 billion problem

Organized crime is on the rise — and it’s taking a heavy financial toll on the nation’s retailers.

Retailers on average report they lost $453,940 per $1 billion in annual sales over the past year due to organized crime, according to the National Retail Federation’s 11th annual Organized Retail Crime Survey, which put a $30 billion price tag on the problem.
Sears names new chief for Kenmore line

Sears Holdings has turned to a veteran of tech and innovation companies to lead the business unit in charge of the company's most iconic brands.

The company has named Tom Park as president of the retailer's Kenmore, Craftsman & DieHard division.
Survey: Most consumers in the dark about EMV

Retailers are extremely aware of the looming Oct. 1 deadline to securely accept payments from chip-enabled, EMV-compliant cards. But according to a new survey of 18,000 U.S. adults, consumers have much lower awareness.

The survey, conducted in late August by POS technology provider Harbortouch, shows that 56% of consumers are unware of what “EMV” or “chip-enabled” mean.