OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

New York -- Walmart had the top online retail site for back-to-school shoppers last week, according to sales data and analysis from Experian Marketing Services (EMS). Rounding out the top five: J.C. Penney, Macy’s, Office Max and Sears. 

Experian noted that brick and mortar stores are getting the majority of search traffic to date. The company also said that offers in subject lines were present on 37% of back- to-school email, and generated 57% of total email revenue in 2012. 

NEW YORK — Consumer confidence in July rose to the highest level in six years as Americans’ views of their finances and the economy improved, according to the the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan index of consumer sentiment.

The index increased to 85.1 in July from 84.1 at the end of June. It was the highest level since July 2007.

Consumers said they were move favorable toward making purchases, including automobiles and homes.

Seattle -- Amazon said it will hire more than 5,000 full-time workers in its U.S. fulfillment centers and 2,000 customer service staff, including part-time and seasonal employees, to meet growing customer demand.

The company said it will immediately begin hiring at 17 fulfillment centers for tasks that include picking items from warehouse shelves, packing them for delivery and operating new technology installed to streamline operations.

New York -- Consumers continue to hold tight to their purse strings and will rely heavily on online and mobile channels while they shop, according to Deloitte’s annual “Back-to-School” and “Back-to-College” surveys. 

Shoppers are far more optimistic about the economy than this time last year. Nearly four in 10 (37%) are more confident in the economy’s prospects, compared with just one-quarter (26%) a year ago. 

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens is rebranding more than 370 former Take Care in-store health clinics as Healthcare Clinics. The national rebranding effort is already in process and expected to be complete by the end of August. Rebranding includes a new web page, walgreens.com/clinic.

DALLAS — Bridgett Zeterberg, general counsel and secretary of Zale Corporation, has been promoted to SVP, general counsel and secretary. Zeterberg joined Zale in September 2010 and became general counsel and secretary in February 2012. Zeterberg is responsible for all legal, compliance and contractual matters, as well as corporate and board governance. She will continue to report to Theo Killion, CEO.

Camp Hill, Pa. -- Rite Aid is launching a loyalty program for consumers 65 and up. The new program is the latest extension of the chain’s customer loyalty program wellness+.

Atlanta – The Home Depot is recalling about 107,000 Chinese-made fan heaters because the fan's plastic housing can melt, deform and catch fire during use, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The Soleil portable fan heaters, marked with model number LH-707, cost about $15 each, and Home Depot will issue a full refund for the purchase price.

The heaters were sold between September 2012 and May 2013 for about $15 each. The CPSC says there have been 464 reports of fans melting, but no injury or property damage has been reported.