Retail

UNION, N.J. — The growth prospects of the nation’s leading home goods retailer is being questioned following a solid first quarter performance and weaker-than-expected outlook.

The purchasing power of Walmart shoppers is on the rise as gas prices come down and the improved spending outlook has the company’s share price setting new highs. What’s there to worry about?

Plenty, according to a survey of top executives conducted by the Business Roundtable, an organization that represents companies who combined employ more than 14 million people and generate $6 trillion in annual sales. Member companies include the likes of Walmart, General Electric, AT&T, ExxonMobil and American Express.

NEW YORK — New predictive analytics tools are being used at Saks Off 5th stores to help the company make smarter merchandising decisions.

The retailer is using tools provided by First Insight to generate insights from online customer engagement to help it make faster and more accurate buying and pricing decisions for new products, according to First Insight. The Pittsburgh-based company said the predictive analytics it generates will help the company reduce markdowns, out of stocks and mitigate the risks associated with new product launches.

You can learn a lot by monitoring consumer conversations in social media. It can predict political elections, the Oscars and even the next reality show winner. If you are a CPG marketer, social media can also be a real-time predictor of your new product’s success.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Hallmark has formed a strategic alliance with Shutterfly Inc., an Internet-based photo sharing company. The alliance, which will roll out in phases, includes co-branded online and retail-based product offerings.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Stein Mart shareholders have re-elected the following people to the company's board of directors:

Jay Stein, Ralph Alexander, Alvin R. Carpenter, Irwin Cohen, Susan Falk, Linda M. Farthing, Mitchell W. Legler, Robert L. Mettler, Richard L. Sisisky, Martin E. Stein, Jr. and John H. Williams, Jr. Each will serve one year terms

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Sheets, makers of dissolvable energy strips, has partnered with Walmart and Pitbull to launch a local Facebook page contest among local Walmart stores, to offer customers the chance to win a visit by Mr. Worldwide.

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. — Kohl’s Department Stores is boosting its high-fashion image with the launch of a new, limited-edition collection concept called DesigNation featuring fashions from different premier designeres.  Narcisco Rodriguez will be the first designer featured in the series. The collection will include pieces inspired by Rodriguez’s trip to Istanbul, Turkey earlier this year and will be available exclusively at Kohl’s and Kohls.com beginning in early-November 2012.