OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

Grand Rapids, Mich. -- Meijer announced that it is now operating one of the largest all-clean diesel fleets in North America. As part of its ongoing green initiatives, the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer's fleet utilized innovative technology to improve fuel efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint by nearly 60% since it first began implementing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2010 near-zero emissions standards three years ago.

New York – Larry Kirshbaum, a publishing industry executive who joined Amazon.com’s New York-based publishing unit in 2011, is reportedly leaving the company to become a literary agent. According to the Associated Press, Kirshbaum, who formerly was in charge of the Time Warner Book Group will officially leave his position in January 2014.

New York -- Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. has named board member Daniel W. Dienst, who most recently served as CEO of Sims Metal Management, as CEO. The position has been vacant since December, when chief executive since Lisa Gersh left the media and merchandising company.

Dienst served as chairman and CEO of Metal Management Ltd. from 2003 to 2008, when it was sold to Sims. He then took the helm at the newly combined company.

New York -- The former chief marketing officer of Kohl’s, Julie Gardner, has joined the board of Cardtronics, which operates more than 80,000 ATMs at locations throughout the United States and internationally.

Gardner spent 14 years at Kohl’s and most recently served as executive VP and chief marketing officer. Prior to Kohl’s, Gardner was with the Eckerd Corp., a regional drugstore chain that was eventually acquired by CVS.

New York -- Brooks Brothers today announced that Mary Pytko has joined the company as its new executive VP of global human resources.

Pytko has held leadership roles at companies including American Express and Lord & Taylor. Most recently she was senior VP, human resources at the Thomson Reuters Corporation.

New York -- Sephora announced Thursday that Calvin McDonald has been named president and CEO of Sephora Americas, effective Jan. 1, 2014.

McDonald, who previously served as president and CEO of Sears Canada, succeeds David Suliteanu.

Suliteanu, who has helmed Sephora Americas since July 2000, will become CEO of Kendo Brands, which is owned by Sephora's parent, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA.

York, Pa. – The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. is the latest retailer to plan to have its stores open Thanksgiving night. Bon-Ton will open its stores at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 28 and offer in-store doorbuster deals through 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 29.

Online doorbusters will begin at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27. Other retailers that have already announced plans to open stores at 8 p.m. Thanksgiving night include Macy’s, J.C. Penney and Kohl’s.

More stores will be open on Thanksgiving, which is also the first full day of Hanukkah

Those who fail to plan, plan to fail. It's hard to believe that September is already here — time for retailers to attend to the holiday shopping season. We at ShopperTrak recommend the following ways to prepare for the coming busy months.

> Maximize opportunities during the shorter selling season.