OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

Sam’s Club launches online Black Friday sale on Thanksgiving
Bentonville, Ark. –- Sam’s Club will launch its Black Friday sale online on Thursday, Nov. 27 just after midnight EST with free standard shipping on Black Friday items. Members can continue shopping in clubs starting at 7 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 28.
Report: Urban Decay opens first brick-and-mortar store
Newport Beach, Calif. –- Formerly pure-play online specialty cosmetics retailer Urban Decay has reportedly entered the brick-and-mortar arena. According to the Los Angeles Times, Urban Decay opened its first physical store, at the Fashion Island mall in its headquarters town of Newport Beach, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 17.

Dunkin’ Donuts plans seven new Arizona stores

Canton, Mass. –- Dunkin’ Donuts has signed a multi-unit store development agreement with existing franchisees ABDD Arizona to develop seven restaurants in Phoenix. The group's first restaurant from this franchise agreement opened Oct. 27.
Report: CVS will open Boston innovation lab

Woonsokcet, R.I. -- CVS Health will reportedly open a 15,000-sq.-ft. digital innovation lab in Boston during the upcoming winter. According to BetaBoston, CVS hopes to ultimately have about 100 employees working at the center, both new hires and workers moved from the CVS headquarters in Woonsocket, R.I.
Target adds in-store navigation features to app

Minneapolis -- Target Corp. has gone live with several new in-store navigation features. The features include new interactive maps along with enhanced shopping lists and search capabilities. Leveraging Point Inside technology, Target customers can use the app to more easily build shopping lists, find product locations and determine item availability at local stores. New features include:
Brookstone names Toys ‘R Us exec as president/CEO

Merrimack, N.H. -- Brookstone Inc. will appoint senior retail executive Thomas M. Via as president and CEO, and as a member of its board of directors, effective Dec. 1. Steven H. Schwartz, who had been serving as interim CEO, will resume his role as chief merchandising officer.
American Eagle Outfitters delivers on European expansion promise

London -- Challenged to grow in the U.S., teen apparel chain American Eagle Outfitters is making good on its pledge to leverage the overseas market to kickstart expansion.
Sheetz opens new Burlington, N.C., distribution center

Altoona, Penn. -- C-store operator Sheetz cut the ceremonial red ribbon to officially open its new Burlington (North Carolina) Distribution Center. The $33 million facility contains a Sheetz Bros kitchen, distribution and warehousing center for the Sheetz distribution fleet. There is also be space for various corporate support departments.
Old Navy criticized for higher cost of women’s plus-size jeans

New York -- A petition to get Old Navy to stop charging more for women's plus-size jeans has gathered more than 36,000 signatures online, Bloomberg reports.
RadioShack adds Houston to in-store mobile device repair program

Fort Worth, Texas -- RadioShack's Fix It Here! same-day mobile repair service is now available in 30 stores in the Houston area, adding to 650 stores already in play and plans to roll the service out to 750 stores by year end. The service allows smartphone and tablet owners to have common issues such as cracked screens, broken buttons and damaged charging ports repaired in-store and same-day. Repairs start at $39.99 and include a 90-day warranty on parts and labor.