OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

San Francisco -- W. Howard Lester, chairman emeritus and former CEO of Willliams-Sonoma, died Nov. 15 from cancer at his home in Indian Wells, Calif. He was 75.

Lester purchased the company with a partner in 1978, when it generated $4 million in annual sales and had four stores. During his time as CEO, from 1978 to 2001, and later as chairman, Lester took Williams-Sonoma public and expanded it to 600 stores and more than $3.4 billion in sales, the company said yesterday in a statement.

Minneapolis  -- Target on Tuesday became the first mass-discount retailer to make the shopkick mobile application available to its shoppers. Users of the app will receive points and other rewards, like instant mobile coupons, just for entering Target. The location-based retail app is available in 242 stores in the Chicago; Dallas; Los Angeles; Miami; Minneapolis; New York City and San Francisco/Silicon Valley markets.

San Francisco -- Levi Strauss and Co., Wal-Mart Stores, The Gap, Hanesbrands, Nordstrom, and Gildan Activewear scored highest on survey of global supply chain compliance programs of U.S. apparel brands and retailers released Tuesday by corporate responsibility group As You Sow.

Plano, Texas -- J.C. Penney announced that its new Foundry Big & Tall Supply Co. division will launch a new retail concept catering to the men’s big-and-tall customer. With plans to open 300 stores -- as well as an e-commerce website -- over the next five years, The Foundry Big & Tall Supply Co. will carry an extensive assortment of national men’s brands along with The Foundry Supply Co. private brand merchandise, offering an upscale, one-stop-shop for the big-and-tall customer, J.C. Penney reported.

Bentonville , Ark. -- Walmart announced that most of its stores will open their doors at midnight on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Starting at 12 a.m. on Nov. 26, shoppers can head to the Walmart Open House for big savings on popular toys, apparel and home goods, the company reported. Then, beginning at 5 a.m., Walmart said it will kick off its electronics event, including discounted prices on HDTVs, laptops, gaming systems and cameras.

Ann Arbor , Mich. -- Borders announced an all new Borders.com featuring discounts on the 100,000 bestselling titles, multiple free shipping options, new product lines, strategic partnerships that complement the Borders brand and a more integrated social media experience.

To celebrate the new Borders.com, the company said it is offering free shipping on all orders placed on Borders.com, Nov. 15.