OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

Tech Guest Viewpoint: Mobile apps streamline inventory management
Your inventory is your biggest investment, and getting it right takes a lot of work. Customers don’t like seeing outdated inventory or empty racks. They don’t like having to ask, “Is there more in the back? and having the employee answer, “I’m not sure.” But keeping track of what’s coming in and going out isn’t always easy.
Report: Barnes & Noble's plans for the future involve a lot more than books
Barnes & Noble’s new CEO Ron Boire, who took the reins of the company in September, wants to transform the chain into a “lifestyle brand” by expanding its selection of toys, games, gadgets and other gifts, according to a report in The New York Times. [The New York Times]

Why retail CEOs are worried about climate change

The chief executives of H&M, Gap Inc. and five other apparel companies are urging world leaders to agree to a strong climate change deal because they fear global warming will drive up their costs by having a negative impact on cotton production, Reuters reported. [Reuters]
Wonder how Amazon scores high in customer service? Read on

Amazon.com is noted for a focus on operational efficiency that is intense, to say the least. However, as the Seattle Times reports, Amazon consistently ranks near the top of customer service rankings by using customer service agents and technologies to ensure customer satisfaction, not rapid turnover. [Seattle Times]
Canadian menswear chain takes enterprising omnichannel approach

Harry Rosen, Inc., a 17-store, Toronto-based luxury menswear retailer, is making the back-end effort to offer a front-end omnichannel experience.

Harry Rosen has chosen the Jesta I.S. Omnichannel Retail Suite, including merchandising, planning, distribution, POS and mobile POS, financials and business intelligence. The retailer expects to centralize its operations on the Jesta I.S. Vision Suite, bringing the entire company onto a single, integrated retail platform.
Survey: Retailers hiring more experienced holiday help and thinking long-term

Retailers are paying more and offering more incentives to secure experienced in-store help to increase sales

At least that’s according to a new survey by Korn Ferry Hay Group, a leading global hiring and organizational advisory firm.
Save-A-Lot taps grocery vet as CEO as it continues to prepare for possible spin-off

Save-A-Lot, the deep-discount division of grocery giant Supervalu, on Wednesday named a supermarket veteran with more than 30 years of experience as its new CEO. Eric Claus, 59, takes the reins of Save-A-Lot after spending the past two-plus years as chairman, president and CEO of Red Apple Stores Inc., a chain of value retail stores based in Canada.
Strong dollar crushes Tiffany

Millions of people worldwide will be surprised and delighted to receive a little blue box this holiday season, but a strong U.S.
Decathlon gets to source of supply chain efficiency

Global sporting goods retailer Decathlon, which operates 850 stores in 22 countries, is improving inventory visibility and shelf accuracy.

Decathlon will roll out radio frequency identification (RFID) solutions from Checkpoint Systems in more than 400 stores globally and further extend its existing RFID source-tagging program for millions of products in all its stores around the world.
More c-suite changes for Francesca's

Francesca's has lost its chief financial adviser just weeks after naming a new head merchant and a new senior marketing executive.

The Texas-based company announced that CFO Mark Vendetti has resigned from the company effective Dec. 4. Cindy Thomassee, Francesca's current VP of accounting, has been appointed to the role of interim CFO and will report directly to CEO Michael W. Barnes while the company conducts a search for a CFO.