Retail

Tapping into the data to increase conversion — and sales

The quickest, surest and most cost-effective way to increase store sales is to improve each store's conversion rate.

It's estimated that more than 50% of North American specialty retailers have installed traffic monitoring/counting systems in some or all of their stores. But many retailers have failed to take advantage of the fact that the data these increasingly sophisticated devices generate can help them improve performance and capitalize on sales.

Upon hearing the phrase "omnichannel," most retailers probably envision reaching out to customers across front-end touchpoints, such as store, PC, mobile device and social media. But fulfilling customer needs across those touchpoints does not occur in a vacuum. Tamara J.

Cloud technology opens torrent of customer data for Chico's FAS

Maintaining a wealth of customer data has become a primary directive for retail IT departments. In recent years, retailers have been making substantial investments in solutions that collect and store data relating to their customers' purchases, behaviors, preferences, demographic characteristics and almost any other traits you can think of. But after all this data has been captured, what do you do with it?

Columbus, Ohio - The Affiliated Business Group (ABG), a division of DSW Inc., will exclusively supply the footwear departments of all U.S. Loehmann’s stores and the loehmanns.com e-commerce site. The initial rollout of the news arrangement is expected to commence in a few stores starting December, 013 with the balance of the chain and e-commerce launching in the first quarter of 2014. ABG will plan, procure, and deliver the entire women's and men's footwear inventory, while Loehmann’s will provide staffing for the shoe departments.

Union, N.J. – Bed, Bath & Beyond Inc. reported positive financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2013. Although net earnings fell from $206.8 million to $202.5 million, net earnings per diluted share increased roughly 4.5% from $0.89 to $0.93.

Vienna, Va. -- Mike’s Flooring and Elements Therapeutic Massage have signed leases at Vienna Shopping Center in Vienna, Va.

Now open for business, Mike’s Flooring has leased 1,900 sq. ft. GSC Real Estate represented Mike’s Flooring. Represented by Next Realty Mid-Atlantic, Elements Therapeutic Massage has leased 1,900 sq. ft. and will open later this summer. The Rappaport Companies represented the landlord in both transactions.

It seemed like everyone had a take on President Barack Obama’s big climate change speech this week and among them was Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., president and CEO Mike Duke.

Walmart had a comment from Duke ready to go less than an hour after the President concluded his remarks on Tuesday at Georgetown University. As expected, Duke applauded the president and his administration for their commitment to renewable energy and conservation and then piggybacked on the speech to tout Walmart’s own accomplishments and commitment to the renewable energy and conservation.

Aaron Brothers uses big data to help develop new prototype

Framing and arts supplies retailer Aaron Brothers is reinventing its stores with a new design that celebrates artistic expression and the creative process. The space, which has an urban, modern look, recalls an artist's loft and is set up to provide shoppers with all the tools they need to make better-informed decisions.