OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

Westlake Village, Calif. -- Paint retailers with well-trained staffers will drive a more positive purchase experience, this according to the J.D. Power 2014 Paint Satisfaction Study.

Woonsocket, R.I. - CVS/pharmacy has expanded the ExtraCare loyalty program, allowing members to send more of their savings and rewards directly to their ExtraCare cards. Through the Send to Card feature, ExtraCare cardholders can now digitally send all personalized offers available on CVS.com and the CVS Mobile app, as well as coupons received via email, to their cards in a single click.

Send to Card was first introduced in 2011 and provided a digital option for select coupons and rewards. Now, ExtraCare members can send more coupons to their cards.

Woonsocket, R.I. -- CVS/pharmacy announced that it is teaming with The Partnership at Drugfree.org to create a community donation program that presents drug collection units to police departments across the country.

Through the Medication Disposal for Safer Communities program, local police departments can apply to receive a drug collection unit to help their communities safely dispose of unwanted medications, including controlled substances.

Mooresville, N.C. -- Lowe’s Cos. has named Joseph M. (Mike) Mabry as strategy and experience design executive, replacing Robert J. Gfeller who left the company last month.

Michael P. McDermott has been promoted to chief merchandising officer, replacing Michael A. Jones, who will assume the role of chief customer officer, effective April 30.

Westport, Conn. – Luxury retailer Mitchells Family of Stores has selected ThoughtWorks to create the next generation of customer engagement experiences. ThoughtWorks delivered a customized technology platform that enables digital collaboration and interaction between the sales associates and their customers.  

Mississauga, Canada - Federal Express Canada Ltd. has reached an agreement with Home Hardware Stores Ltd. that allows individual dealer-owners the ability to house full-service FedEx Authorized ShipCenters within their stores. The FedEx Authorized ShipCenters will be rolled out across Canada in a series of implementation waves throughout the year.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. – Sears is offering a new service called Get Advice to members of its Shop Your Way omni-channel loyalty program. Shop Your Way members can post online requests for advice on shopping decisions and receive answers from both Sears associates and other loyalty members.

In addition to posting answers, members can also vote on answers they think are the most helpful. The service is designed to generate answers within minutes and currently is only open Shop Your Way members shopping at Sears and not Kmart.

Washington, D.C. -- The American Postal Workers Union will stage a protest in Staples stores across 27 states on Thursday, in objection to the office supply retailer’s opening of in-store postal counters staffed by Staples employees.

In 2013, Staples launched its postal pilot program, introducing in-store postal services that today includes about 80 stores. According to a report by the Associated Press, the union objects because the program replaces well-paid union workers with low-wage nonunion workers.