OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

NRF and others urge quick resolution to labor negotions on West Coast ports
New York --A group of 104 national, state and local organizations--representing farmers, manufacturers, retailers, transportation providers and others--signed a letter urging the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) “to quickly conclude a new labor agreement...to allay growing concerns of thousands of businesses who rely on West Coast ports for orderly and timely supply chain operations.”
Home Depot promotes Marc Powers to U.S. stores head
Atlanta -- The Home Depot announced that it has named Marc Powers executive VP, U.S. stores, effective Nov. 1, 2014. He replaces Marvin Ellison, who was recently named president and CEO designee of J.C. Penney Co.

Survey: Data breaches scare away customers

Austin, Texas -- Almost half of Americans are likely to avoid shopping at stores that were affected by data breaches in the past year. According to a new CreditCards.com report, 45% of major credit and debit card holders say they would “definitely” or “probably not” shop at a retailer where consumers’ personal information (including credit and debit card data) was exposed.
West Elm to open in Washington, D.C.

New York -- West Elm, a division of Williams-Sonoma, will open a store in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, Oct. 23rd. Located in Logan Circle, the more than 14,500-sq.-ft. store will feature a curated selection of products made by artists located in the D.C. area through West Elm’s Local initiative, which taps into local entrepreneurship.
RadioShack offers mobile repair service in 26 Chicago stores

Fort Worth, Texas -- RadioShack's Fix It Here same-day mobile repair service is now available in 26 stores in the Chicago area. Services include repairs for cracked screens, broken buttons and damaged charging ports.
Report: Sears clerk steals $3.7 million in merchandise

Hoffman Estates, Ill. –- An inventory clerk at a Sears Holding Corp. distribution center in Logan Township, N.J., has reportedly been arrested for stealing merchandise worth $3.7 million in retail value and selling it for both cash and bartered services to a network of individuals in the tri-state area. According to the New Jersey Star-Ledger, following an investigation by Sears loss prevention officials and local and county police, Kim Watson, 32, was arrested on Friday, Oct. 17.
Starbucks boosting pay and relaxing dress code for workers; gives OK to tattoos

Seattle – Starbucks Coffee Co. is increasing the pay and relaxing the dress code of its U.S. store employees to allow for tattoos and other forms of self-expression to show.
Target Canada opens three new stores

Mississauga, Ont. -- Target Canada is opening three new stores Oct. 17, located in Ottawa, Ont; Sheridan Centre in Mississauga, Ont. and Polo Park in Winnipeg, Man. The opening of the three new stores marks the final stores scheduled to open in 2014 and brings the total number of Target Canada stores open across the country to 133.
Industry Commentary: C-stores evolving quickly amid rising expectation

Las Vegas -- Today’s convenience stores face growing pressure to evolve amid the ramped-up expectations of global consumers, according to remarks made by Joseph Bona, president of branded environments at brand agency and retail design consultancy CBX, and Dan Munford, managing firector of U.K.-based Insight, convenience and petroleum retail strategy specialists, at the National Association of Convenience Stores’ annual convention in Las Vegas.
Fairway names chief merchandising officer

New York -- Fairway Group Holdings announced that Dorothy Carlow will join the supermarket company as chief merchandising officer, effective Nov. 3. Carlow will lead the merchandising team and the company's buying and sales strategies.