Personnel Updates

• Amazon.com Inc. announced that it plans to hire more than 60,000 workers across its fulfillment network in the United States by 2018.

• Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. will soon eliminate 880 store manager positions.

• Toys “R” Us Inc. announced it has named Mark Johnson as Exec VP, U.S. Marketplace Operations.

Industry Insight

• Amazon.com Inc. announced it will sell Kenmore-branded appliances in a partnership with Sears Holdings. Distribution will be nationwide, and Sears Home Services will provide delivery, installation, and other services. As an added feature, Sears will sync its full line of Kenmore Smart appliances with Amazon’s Alexa, allowing customers to be able to control the appliances with a voice command.

• Office Depot Inc. is launching a same-day delivery program. The service, powered by Deliv, will be available in Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Miami. It is expected to be rolled out in several additional markets by the end of December.

Real Estate

• Amazon.com Inc. has selected Lake Nona, FL, as the site of an 850,000 sq. ft. distribution center set to open in 2018. It will create more than 1,500 full-time jobs.

• See’s Candies Inc. plans to open a dozen new stores by the end of 2017 in California.

• Sprint Nextel Corporation announced it will expand in the Midwest. The retailer plans to add 30 new stores and more than 200 jobs throughout Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri and Nebraska by the end of 2017.

• Walmart Stores Inc. opened a new 2.2 million sq. ft. e-commerce fulfillment center in Davenport, FL, creating 1,500 jobs.

Technology News

• Walmart Stores Inc. said it will soon roll out 100 Pickup Towers to stores across the country. Pickup Towers are high-tech vending machines that allow customers to pick up online orders by scanning a bar code on their smart phone.