OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

IHL study links in-store WiFi to increased customer loyalty, sales
Atlanta -- Deployment of in-store Wi-Fi had the most significant positive impact on retail sales and loyalty of any technology initiative, according to a survey by IHL Group. Almost half of the participating retailers claimed increased customer loyalty due to deploying in-store employee Wi-Fi, with an associated 3.4% increase in sales. One-third of retailers (28%) reported increased customer loyalty due to deploying in-store customer Wi-Fi, with an associated 2% increase in sales.
Supervalu lets customers stack coin
Eden Prairie, Minn. – Supervalu Inc. wants customers to be able to stack some coin. The grocery retailer has added Cummins Allison’s Money Machine 2 self-service coin counters across multiple store locations in Maryland, Missouri, Illinois and Virginia.

Supervalu selected the new Money Machine 2 coin counters because of their flexibility. Additionally, Cummins Allison provided Supervalu with opportunities to increase their coin redemption revenue without increasing user fees.

Report: Jos. A. Bank lays off 122 headquarters employees

Hampstead, Md. – Jos. A. Bank Clothiers is reportedly laying off 122 workers at its corporate headquarters. According to Reuters, the cuts will occur between May and December 2015, and represent about 15% of its total headquarters personnel. The layoffs come nearly one year after the company was acquired by Men’s Wearhouse.
Twistee Treat sees improved hiring with JobOn video recruiting

Orlando, Fla. – Store expansion is a wonderful thing, but effectively keeping up with recruiting and hiring the employees who staff new stores is not always easy. Twistee Treat, a rapidly growing, 15-store specialty ice cream retailer, is using video HR technology from JobOn to facilitate hiring and recruiting at remote locations.
NRF survey: Expanded overtime would hurt retail

Washington, D.C. - An Obama administration proposal to expand overtime and redefine what it means to be a restaurant or retail manager may harm mangers’ career paths and undermine the quality of customer service they are able to provide. According to a new survey 200 salaried retail and restaurant managers conducted for the National Retail Federation (NRF) by GfK Research, 81% of respondents said there would be an adverse impact on customer service.
PetSmart revamps senior leadership

Phoenix – PetSmart Inc. has named six new executives to its senior leadership team. The additions reflect the first major hires by PetSmart’s newly installed president and CEO, Michael Massey.

Joining the Company are: Eran Cohen, executive VP of customer experience; Ron Cooperman, executive VP of strategy, Initiatives and real estate; Ted Passig, executive VP of buying and sourcing; Phil Vostrejs, executive VP of merchandise planning allocation, distribution and supply chain; and Brian Amkraut, senior VP of real estate.
Adidas reduces loss with Micros solution

Herzogenerauch, Germany - Employing 45 profit protection managers and using three different POS systems across 11 global markets, Germany-based vertical athletic apparel/footwear retailer Adidas does not have an easy time managing loss prevention. But as demonstrated in a presentation at the recent Oracle Industry Connect 2015 conference, Adidas is simplifying loss prevention with the use of the Micros XBR loss prevention solution.
Christopher & Banks names former Pantry CEO to board

Minneapolis - Christopher & Banks Corp, has named Edwin J. Holman to its board of directors, following a search process with the assistance of a national search firm. Holman’s election increases the number of board members to nine and the number of independent directors to eight.

Holman is also expected to be a nominee for election at the company’s next annual meeting of stockholders. Holman, 68, served as interim CEO of The Pantry Inc. from October 2011 until March 2012.
Home Depot names its first-ever chief information security officer

New York -- The Home Depot Inc. has appointed former Time Warner and Visa executive Jamil Farshchi to the new position of chief information security officer (CISO), the Atlanta Business Chronicle reported. The move comes months after the home improvement retailer said its payment systems were breached at some 2,200 U.S. and Canadian stores.
Report: Home Depot not in full security compliance during breach

Atlanta – The Home Depot Inc. was reportedly not in full compliance with data security standards when a major data breach began in April 2014. According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, an investigator working for credit card companies said Home Depot was in compliance with data security standards in 2013, but was still working to obtain compliance certification when the 2014 attack occurred.