OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

Retailers getting ready for EMV shift, but what about consumers?
Arlington, Va. -- A report says that only one in five debit and credit cards are ready for the EMV shift.

As retailers spend billions to upgrade their point of sale terminals to accept new chip cards before the Oct. 1 liability shift deadline, the nation’s largest card network acknowledged that a staggering number of magnetic “swipe” cards have not been replaced with new cards.
The Shopper ‘Journey’ is Actually a Minefield
The more we learn about real-world customer experiences, the more we see that we've been horribly naive about the role that mobile devices play in shoppers' lives.

Big wage increase approved for fast-food workers in New York

New York -- The administration of Gov. Andrew Cuomo approved a wage increase that will gradually raise the minimum wage for fast-food workers in New York to $15 an hour. And now Cuomo wants the hike to be even broader.

Speaking Thursday at a labor rally in New York City, Cuomo proposed a $15 minimum statewide wage for all industries, with the increase to be enacted over time. It would give the Empire State the highest statewide minimum wage in the country. New York’s minimum wage is now $8.75 an hour.
Report: Smaller retailers not worried about EMV

Austin, Texas – Many smaller retailers only consider meeting the upcoming Oct. 1 deadline for EMV compliance as a small concern.

Despite the fact retailers face a shift in payment card fraud liability if they do not have EMV-compliant POS systems in place by Oct. 1, a new study from Software Advice finds that only 22% of small-to-midsized business (SMB) retailers are prepared to meet the deadline. However, the percentage of SMB retailers who are EMV-compliant has doubled from 11% in 2014 to 22% today.
Costco photo center returns after July breach

Issaquah, Wash. – Costco Wholesale Corp. is finally getting its online photo center partially up and running following a July 2015 data breach at the third-party hosting provider.

Returning users will have to create a new password before re-entering the site.

All photo center products except the mobile app, framed prints and mail order products are once again fully available. Costco expects to have the mobile app and mail order option available by the end of September, and framed prints available by mid-October.
Customers can tap and go at BJ’s Wholesale Club

Columbus, Ohio -- Alliance Data Systems Corp.’s card services business has introduced an EMV-based co-brand credit card solution with tap-and-pay functionality for its retail partners.

The first of these dual-interface chip cards are co-branded with MasterCard and BJ’s Wholesale Club and the Fuel Rewards program. With this new functionality, customers can pay for purchases by tapping their card on a contactless-enabled terminal, making payments simple, easy and fast.
Dunkin’ Brands names former trade group exec as legislative affairs VP

Canton, Mass. - Dunkin' Brands Group Inc., the parent company of Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, has named Michael R. Shutley as VP, federal & state government affairs.

Reporting directly to Karen Raskopf, chief communications officer, Shutley will work closely with senior management to develop and implement the company's legislative initiatives.

He will also advocate for Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins franchisees at all levels of government, both domestically and internationally.
Footwear brand adds two new exec positions

Long Island City, N.Y. -- Steve Madden has made two key executive promotions.

The company announced that Amelia Newton Varela has been named to the newly created position of president, and Karla Frieders has been appointed to the newly created position of chief merchandising officer.

Varela has more than 17 years of experience with Steve Madden in various roles, most recently as executive VP of wholesale.
Will retailers be hit with holiday labor shortage?

New York -- The improving job picture may spell trouble for retailers’ holiday hiring plans, according to a report by CNBC.

As online sales growth continues to grow, experts say retailers are already having trouble filling positions in the heart of their digital operations: their fulfillment centers.

Read the full CNBC story, by clicking here.
Aerosoles names retail footwear veteran as its new chief

Edison, N.J. -- Aerosoles has appointed a retail and footwear veteran with more than two decades of experience as CEO.

The company named retail and footwear industry veteran executive R. Shawn Neville as CEO, effective Sept. 8. He takes over from interim CEO Caryn Lerner, operating partner of Palladin Consumer Retail Partners, which acquired privately owned Aerosoles in June 2014.