OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

New York -- Former Target EVP stores Troy Risch and former Sam’s Club senior VP and general merchandise manager Huey Long have joined RadioShack.

Risch will serve as EVP operations at RadioShack and oversee the company’s network of 4,700 stores and 1,500 wireless phone centers in the United States and 1,100 dealer and other outlets worldwide. Long will serve as EVP strategy and consumer insights and be responsible for marketing, business development and omnichannel.

London -- A report released Wednesday by the International Council of Shopping Centers and Path Intelligence found that, although U.K. consumers are stepping up their shopping at the nation’s shopping centers, the pace is still trailing 2011.

Schaumburg, Ill. -- A holiday shopping study released Wednesday by Motorola Solutions found that technology continues to radically transform the traditional holiday shopping experience, as 61% of surveyed retail managers believe that shoppers are better connected to information than in-store associates, increasing from nearly 59% in 2011 and 51% in 2010.

New York -- Dick's Sporting Goods said it has removed all guns from its store nearest to Newtown, Conn., and is suspending the sale of certain kinds of semi-automatic rifles from its chains nationwide.

In a statement, the retailer said the move was made out of respect for the victims and families of last week's Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

Framingham, Mass. -- Staples Inc. opened its new Velocity Lab, in Cambridge, Mass. The lab houses teams responsible for designing and implementing innovative new e-commerce and mobile solutions across Staples’ global business units.

The move is part of the office supply retailer’s recently announced strategic plan to accelerate growth by integrating its retail and online offerings and increasing investment in online and mobile capabilities to provide business customers with a seamless multichannel shopping experience.

Framingham, Mass. -- Staples Inc. announced Monday that its president and COO Michael Miles has left the company, effective Feb. 2.

Miles has accepted a position with Boston-based investment firm Berkshire Partners.

Philadelphia -- Eighty-one percent of online shoppers say they are not likely to make additional purchases from websites that charge shipping on returns and 69% feeling that returning items purchased online is a complicated process, according to a survey by ShopRunner that was conducted online by Harris Interactive.

Toronto -- As consumers continue to seek more convenient methods of shopping, through mobile and online, the potential for further sales erosion continues to threaten retailers, according to a new study by branding and design firm Shikatani Lacroix.

The report, “RE:STORE – Redefining Retail,” finds that 59% of U.S. shoppers “showroom” – or browse for products in store but then buy them online.