Features Retail

It’s a term the Grateful Dead used to explain their longevity: misfit power. C. Chris Meystrik nods approvingly when asked whether it’s in the secret sauce of his infotech division at Jewelry Television (JTV). “I like it,” he answers. “At another company, a manager might roll his eyes and say, ‘that guy’s really out there’ […]

W hen Amplify Snack Brands was acquired by Hershey in early 2018, the company’s IT team began integrating with the candy giant’s systems and infrastructure. When this was completed in January 2020, the team had no idea how fortuitous its timing was. “It worked out perfectly for the pandemic,” IT Director Jorge Barroso says. “We […]

Hydraulics straining, the forklift plods a steady course through the warehouse, carrying new inventory to be stored on racks or removing inventory for shipping.  It’s a process seemingly as old as warehouses, but there’s a modern twist. Instead of operating on paper and memory, warehouse operators are relying on technology to help find the correct […]

Managing operations for a successful chain of pizza shops may not be the typical way to become an IT leader, but it’s certainly worked for Scott Stalnaker. Stalnaker, the executive director of IT infrastructure for Donatos Pizza, began his career with the venerable Columbus, Ohio-based pizza chain in 1993 and rose to become a district […]

How do bolts of fabric, hides of leather and sheets of plywood build a career in IT? Those are among the raw materials McCreary Modern of Newton, North Carolina, uses to make the upholstered furniture it ships to retailers throughout the U.S. Tracking those materials and the manufacturing processes is Alan Fisher’s responsibility. As director […]

At the end of 2018, the outlook for Payless ShoeSource, at least in the U.S., was grim. Cornered by online retailers like Zappos and Amazon, it had closed more than 1,000 stores across the country. However, with new executive leadership, its fortunes were beginning to shift in early 2020, says Mario Lozada, who was among […]

He’s never been in a rush to use the latest infotech at Fareway Stores Inc. Shoppers probably wouldn’t like drastic changes at the Midwest grocery chain noted for personalized service, Nathan Kerns tells Toggle in June from headquarters in Boone, Iowa. A member of the tech team for over a dozen years and senior vice […]

After 32 years at Ocean State Job Lot, Hisham Aharon is still finding ways to innovate. When the retail company expanded beyond New England, Aharon, the CIO, and his team, noticed its transportation system was inefficient. Trucks were headed to Pennsylvania full of merchandise and returning empty, which was a waste of time and fuel. […]

The skill sets of music and technology can so complement. So says Marty Ray who’s well-versed at both. Late jazz saxophonist John Coltrane and ill-fated guitar god Stevie Ray Vaughan remain inspirations. Neither virtuoso ever had to look at sheet music, Ray reminds. Artistic passion just flowed through them. An accomplished guitarist in his own […]

This could be great for anyone who’s ever scoured the produce section for fresh fennel or wondered what a kumquat looks like but was unable to get help from a store employee. It’s video recognition for produce. Not just scanning to see its price, but identifying what you’re holding so you don’t mess up that […]