OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

Lands’ End names execs from Saks and J. Crew to its executive team
Dodgeville, Wis. -- Lands' End announced the appointments of two retail veterans to its executive team which is led by newly appointed CEO Federica Marchionni.

Joseph Boitano, most recently group senior VP and general merchandise manager for Saks Fifth Avenue, has been named Lands’ End executive VP, chief merchandising and design officer.
Walgreens launches Apple Watch health app, plans Apple Pay integration
Deerfield, Ill. — Walgreens on Monday officially launched its app for Apple Watch that helps keep patients adherent to their medication regimens. The Walgreens App for Apple Watch is designed to help patients manage their medications, whether it is a simple, once-daily reminder or multiple complex drug regimens.

Survey: Shoplifting apprehensions up 7.4% in 2014

Wesley Chapel, Fla. -- More than1.2 million shoplifters and dishonest employees were apprehended in 2014 by just 25 large retailers who recovered over $225 million from these thieves, according to the 27th Annual Retail Theft Survey conducted by loss prevention and inventory shrinkage control consulting firm Jack L. Hayes International. The participants were made up 25 large retail companies with 23,250 stores and over $700 billion in retail sales (2014).
Orvis names former Select Comfort CEO as new president

Sunderland, Vt. - William R. McLaughlin has been named as the new president of the Orvis Company Inc. He will succeed Raymond G. McCready, who will retire later this year.

McLaughlin will assume the post July 27. McLaughlin's early career included leadership roles with Pillsbury and PepsiCo. At Pepsi, he managed several of their international businesses and rose to become president of Frito Lay Europe, Middle East & Africa. From 2000 to 2012, McLaughlin was president & CEO of the specialty retailer Select Comfort Corp.
Restoration Hardware to unveil new business June 11

Corte Madera, Calif. - RH, Restoration Hardware, will announce plans for the launch of a new business on Thursday, June 11, after market close. RH chairman and CEO Gary Friedman will unveil the new concept during the company’s first quarter fiscal 2015 earnings video.

No other details have been made available at this time.
Kroger promotes two Harris Teeter executives

Photo: Fred Morganthall has been named senior VP of retail divisions for The Kroger Co.
Labor Management: A Key to Omnichannel Success

There has been a great deal written about omnichannel’s impact on the store, multichannel shopping behaviors and cross-channel fulfillment. What seems to have gone unreported, however, is the tremendous impact labor costs can have on profitably delivering the omnichannel shopping experiences consumers now demand.
Wal-Mart names new chairman as Rob Walton steps down

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores announced that board chairman Rob Walton is stepping down and will be succeeded by vice chairman Greg Penner, who is Walton's son-in-law. Walton relinquished the position of chairman at the company's annual meeting on June 5.
Wal-Mart not worried about competitors; its 2 million associates are the key

Bentonville, Ark. -- Speaking at Wal-Mart Stores’ annual shareholders meeting in Bentonville, Arkansas, president and CEO Doug McMillon told the more than 14,000 assembled associates and shareholders that he is more worried about the enemy within the company than competitors.

“The truth is the real villains are lurking within the company,” said McMillon. “Our real villains are things like bureaucracy, complacency, a lack of speed, or a lack of passion.”
Report: Walmart stores not welcome in New York City, says mayor

New York -- The mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio, said Thursday that Walmart stores are not welcome in New York City, Newsday reported. His attitude is much different from his predecessor, Michael Bloomberg.

Click here for the story.