IBM

By Mike Troy

Mobile, social, solution, cloud, big data, SaaS, optimize and engage. It was impossible to have a conversation at the National Retail Federation convention in New York without hearing these words — a lot.

ARMONK, N.Y. and AKRON — Signet Jewelers teamed up with IBM to give its national U.S. store chains, Kay Jewelers and Jared the Galleria of Jewelry, a digital makeover.

The digital marketing redesign has transformed the multichannel experience for Kay and Jared customers, according to Signet, and resulted in consistent sales growth, including a year-over-year increase of 49% in online sales, as reported in the company's recently announced holiday sales for fiscal 2013.

Armonk, N.Y. -- IBM announced Wednesday that jewelry chain Signet Jewelers has teamed with IBM on a major e-commerce strategy and digital marketing redesign for Signet's national U.S. store chains, Kay Jewelers and Jared the Galleria of Jewelry.

The initiative has resulted in consistent sales growth, including a year-over-year increase of 49% in online sales as reported in the company's recently announced holiday sales for fiscal 2013.

New York -- Shoppers diversifying the way they shop for and acquire goods, becoming increasingly open to buying both online and in-store depending on their needs at time of purchase. While more than 80% of shoppers chose the store to make their last non-grocery purchase, only half are committed to returning there next time they buy. These are among the findings of a new IBM study of global consumers.

NEW YORK — The National Retail Federation has elected Saks chairman and CEO Stephen I. Sadove to chairman of the NRF board of directors and chairman of its executive committee. Sadove succeeds NRF’s chairman, Terry J. Lundgren, who is chairman, president and CEO of Macy’s.
 

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Mattress and pillow manufacturer Tempur-Pedic has announced that its EVP of global operations, Matthew Clift, is retiring.

A succession plan and search is already underway with Clift continuing to lead the global operations team during the transition period.

Tempur-Pedic credits Clift with the global operations team’s success, which is describes as vital to the company's success and progression in recent years.

New York -- In a surprise move, Sears Holdings Corp. announced that CEO Louis J. D'Ambrosio will step down as CEO, effective Feb. 2, for family health reasons. D'Ambrosio will be replaced by the company's chairman and its largest shareholder, Edward Lampert.

New York City -- Online sales rose 22.4% on Christmas Day, according to IBM Digital Analytics Benchmark, which tracks more than 1 million e-commerce transactions a day from 500 U.S. retailers.

The increase was higher than the 16.4% increase in 2011, and provided one bright spot in what has proven so far to be a lackluster holiday shopping season.