This week in retail: HR bets on AI, Carhartt unifies planning, Sam's Club IndyCar activation, Best Buy counters Prime, Schnucks buys 51 stores, Amazon launches $50 denim

HR Weekly Brief: AI momentum, retail shifts, and M&A - what HR needs to do now

From AI adoption in HR to supply chain overhauls and holiday retail moves, this week's updates point to one theme: execution. Below are the key stories and the actions HR leaders can take right away.

9/17/2025 - Survey: HR leaders bullish on AI

AI awareness is near universal among HR and benefits leaders (98%), and more than 90% expect a positive impact on operations. The top time drains: repetitive benefits questions (91%), coordinating vendors (89%), and documentation/compliance (85%).

Most HR teams are already experimenting-77% use tools like ChatGPT-and 46% of organizations using AI in benefits administration report gains in wellness engagement and reduced leave. The signal is clear: pilot, measure, scale.

• Start with high-volume use cases: benefits FAQs, policy Q&A, leave intake, plan comparison, and document drafting.
• Set guardrails: data retention, access controls, red-teaming prompts, and human-in-the-loop review. See the NIST AI Risk Management Framework for a practical baseline here.
• Consolidate vendor workflows: connect AI assistants to your benefits hub, case tools, and knowledge base to reduce context switching.
• Measure impact weekly: time saved per ticket, first-contact resolution, benefits utilization, and employee CSAT.
• Train managers on prompt quality and policy. For HR-focused upskilling, explore job-specific AI learning paths here.

9/17/2025 - Carhartt centralizes global inventory and supply planning

Carhartt is unifying supply planning on an AI-based platform from Relex Solutions to improve forecasting, seasonal planning, and production proposals. The company is moving off legacy systems and spreadsheets to gain end-to-end visibility and agility.

For HR, this means skills, change, and adoption. New planning tools shift roles toward data fluency, exception handling, and cross-team decision cycles.

• Update job architecture for planning, merchandising, and ops: analytics proficiency, scenario modeling, and system literacy.
• Stand up a "train-the-trainer" program and certify super users by site and function.
• Align incentives to business outcomes (forecast accuracy, service level, inventory turns), not just task completion.
• Create a change network: champions in demand planning, production, and supply to keep feedback loops tight in the first 90 days.

9/17/2025 - Sam's Club runs interactive IndyCar experiences

Nashville stores hosted virtual racing simulators, live music, brand demos, and a driver meet-and-greet. The initiative launched as part of the retailer's Member Access Platform, blending digital and in-person activations.

Experiential retail raises the bar on staffing, safety, and skills. HR plays point on customer-facing training, micro-shifts, and clear SOPs for events.

• Build an event staffing playbook: roles, headcount ratios, crowd flow, and escalation paths.
• Train associates on brand activations and consent for photos/video; refresh safety drills.
• Use flexible scheduling and incentives for peak windows; track fatigue risk.
• Partner with marketing on soft skills: hospitality, demos, and on-the-spot member education.

9/16/2025 - Best Buy schedules an October "Techtober" sale (overlaps Prime event)

Best Buy is running a week-long holiday tech sale (Oct. 6-12) with daily offers across channels, bracketing a late-September flash sale and a member-only week. The timing overlaps Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days (Oct. 7-8).

Expect volume spikes, omni fulfillment pressure, and demand for service teams. HR should front-load hiring, training, and workload protections.

• Lock seasonal headcount early; certify temps on POS, curbside, and returns within week one.
• Stagger leaders' schedules to keep coaching and approvals available during deal drops.
• Set clear rules for price matching and returns to reduce friction and rework.
• Protect recovery time after peak days; monitor overtime and burnout indicators.

9/16/2025 - Schnucks' parent to acquire 51 Wisconsin stores

The 1939 Group (owner of Schnucks) will acquire the parent companies of Skogen's Festival Foods and Hometown Grocers, operating 51 stores. Post-close, all brands remain as sister companies with separate HQs, growing the footprint to 164 stores across four states.

M&A integration is a people project. HR must stabilize teams, align policies, and protect culture while harmonizing systems.

• Day 0: guarantee pay continuity, honor accrued time off, and communicate benefits timing and choices.
• Map union and non-union sites; coordinate early with labor reps where applicable.
• Stand up an HRIS integration plan: data mapping, eligibility rules, and single sign-on sequencing.
• Use a "same job, same grade, same pay range" principle to guide harmonization and reduce attrition risk.

9/16/2025 - Amazon launches budget denim under Amazon Essentials with Gen Z influencers

Amazon rolled out denim jackets and wide-leg fits under $50, promoted with Gen Z creators, backed by fast delivery options. The company continues to build private labels and value lines.

For HR in retail and e-commerce, this points to short-cycle merchandising, creator partnerships, and fulfillment surges. Hiring and training need to match the pace.

• Expand creator-collab roles in marketing and legal; codify approval paths and disclosure rules.
• Cross-train associates on size/fit guidance tools and returns triage to keep CX high.
• Plan flex labor for same-day/next-day spikes; tie incentives to pick accuracy and on-time ship.

What to do this week

• Pick one AI use case in benefits or HR ops and launch a 30-day pilot with firm metrics.
• Audit Q4 staffing plans against known retail peaks; pre-approve overtime budgets with safeguards.
• If your org is adopting new planning tech, secure a cross-functional training calendar and name champions now.
• Refresh your AI policy with clear guardrails. SHRM's overview is a helpful primer here.

Want structured upskilling for your team? Explore AI learning paths by job function here.