Research Topic

Morrisville. N.C. – Same-store sales soared at Amazon.com and EBay during September 2014. According to e-commerce technology provider ChannelAdvisor, Amazon's September same-store sales growth came in at 37.9%, a decrease compared to August's 45.1%.  

Even with a decrease from August to September, 37.9% is more than twice the growth rate of e-commerce.

Following September sales that were above its guidance, Cato Corporation is increasing its third-quarter guidance.

The company reported sales of $79.7 million for the five weeks ended Oct. 4, a 9% increase over sales of $72.9 million for the five weeks ended Oct. 5, 2013. Same-store sales for the five-week period increased 5% from the prior year.

Sales for the 35 weeks ended Oct. 4 were $669.5 million, up 7% from the same period last year. The company's year-to-date same-store sales increased 4% from the prior year.

Reston, Va. -- Consumers have high expectations for retail care when shopping via mobile device, and if those expectations aren't met, they'll abandon the experience entirely, according to a new study from Contact Solutions. Fifty-one percent abandon the cart and close the app (lost purchase) when they struggle in a retail app, and 20% stop using the app entirely.

Costco reported a rise in sales and same-store sales for the fourth quarter.

Net sales for the quarter were $34.75 billion, an increase of 9% from $31.77 billion in fiscal 2013. Same-store sales for the total company increased 6%, while U.S. same-store sales also rose 6%.

Net income for the quarter was $697 million, or $1.58 per diluted share, compared with $617 million, or $1.40 per diluted share, in the year-ago period.

New York -- Cautious spending and economic realities that are bifurcating the American holiday shopper into two distinct segments are two of the 10 trends that are expected to drive the 2014 holiday shopping season, according to a new report from PwC US and Strategy.

The 2014 holiday shopping season will be characterized by cautious spending, while economic realities create one of two American holiday shoppers — survivalists and selectionists — according to a new report released Tuesday from PricewaterhouseCoopers U.S. and Strategy, titled "2014 Holiday Outlook: Top trends, consumer behaviors and implications for retailers."

Cautious spending and a spending divide that has bifurcated the American holiday shopper into two distinct segments,  are two of the 10 big trends that are expected to drive the 2014 holiday shopping season, according to a new report from PwC US and Strategy&.

Sunnyvale, Calif. -- Sixty-two percent of consumers expect live chat to be available on mobile devices, and 82% would use it, according to a new study commissioned by Moxie Software. Seventy-five percent of survey respondents stated that they would prefer to use live online chat versus calling to speak with an agent.