OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

Amazon deploys robot armies in new-gen fullfillment centers
Seattle - Santa may have his elves, but Amazon.com has something better to help send holiday gifts on their way: a robot army. The online giant has deployed more than 15,000 robots in 10 next-generation fulfillment centers it has opened across the United States.
Staples makes shipping easier, cheaper
Framingham, Mass. – Staples Inc. aims to make shipping both cheaper and easier for frazzled shoppers this holiday season. Staples is offering 20% off shipping services through Dec. 23 with coupon, and an expanded selection of packaging and shipping supplies.

Food producer Systopia goes cashless

Irvine, CA – Food producer Systopia International has recently upgraded its payment technology within the dining area of its new Green Bay, Wis. facility. Working closely with in-house caterer Aramark, Systopia designed a cashless payment solution based upon using staff security RFID badges as the cashless credentials.
Report – FBI warns of catastrophic new malware

Washington, D.C. – The FBI is reportedly warning U.S. businesses of a catastrophic new malware that may have links to the governments of North Korea and/or Iran. According to Reuters, the malware has previously been used in destructive attacks against businesses in the Middle East and Asia, but was detected for the first time in the U.S. in a recent cyberattack that shut down corporate email for a week and damaged other systems at Sony Pictures Entertainment.
HSN names Fruit of the Loom exec Cornerstone president

St. Petersburg, Fla. - HSN Inc. has named Jeffrey Kuster as president of Cornerstone and executive officer of HSNi. Kuster, 48, has held various leadership positions in the apparel, fashion and retail industries, most recently as executive VP, chief marketing and strategy officer for Berkshire Hathaway's Fruit of the Loom.
Chief merchandiser of Walmart out

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — The merchandising organization at Walmart is being transformed again following the departure of executive VP and chief merchandising officer Duncan Mac Naughton. His departure, in turn, served as the linchpin for several other high level moves.
Home Depot faces 44 breach-related suits

Atlanta – The Home Depot Inc. faces at least 44 lawsuits connected with a data breach that affected the retailer from April-September 2014. In a regulatory filing, the retailer said state and federal agencies are investigating the breach and more legal action is possible.
Insights: The Abercrombie & Fitch employee religious accommodation case

By Veena A. Iyer, Nilan Johnson Lewis
Staples to showcase in-store 3D printing kiosks

MakerBot and Staples announced today that MakerBot Replicator 3D Printers and MakerBot Digitizer Desktop 3D Scanners are now available in 50 select Staples retail stores across 18 states. MakerBot is Staples’ exclusive provider in-store of 3D printing hardware, with premium in-store experiences to showcase the entire MakerBot 3D Ecosystem. This partnership makes Staples the exclusive office supply company to offer MakerBot 3D printing and scanning products in the store.
Insights: Data Security and Customer Loyalty

By: David Kidd, Peak 10

Data privacy and security remain top concerns for retailers. There is good reason for that. The Target breach compromised approximately 70 million records. The Home Depot breach potentially impacted another 60 million consumers. As I write this article, reports are being made public about a breach involving the office supply retailer Staples. We can no longer deny that cybercrime is a real and growing threat to the retail sector.