Retail

Leading beauty products manufacturer Elizabeth Arden is the latest company to cite an intensely promotional marketplace as the reason for worse-than-expected holiday season sales and profits.

The company said sales for its second quarter ended Dec. 31, would be in the range of $414 to $418 million and earnings per share would be between $1.13 and $1.16, substantially below sales of $468 million and earnings of $1.47 during the same period the prior year.

By Greg Arnette, CTO, Sonian

In the age of digital transactions, modern retailers have more data at their fingertips than ever before, right in their point-of-sale (POS) systems. In many cases, however, businesses are using POS data solely to process sales and update inventory levels. Instead, businesses could be leveraging the purchase data to learn much more about their customers and make actionable decisions that drive bottom-line results.

Listen Closely

New York -- The National Retail Federation is calling for the use of chip-and-PIN technology in credit and debit cards that. Experts say the technology, standard around the world, is more secure than the magnetic stripe cards that are still widely used throughout the United States.The technology has not been widely adopted in the United States, partly due to its higher cost  

Hershey is launching a new line of chocolate spreads, called Hershey's Spreads. The spreads will be available in three varieties: Chocolate, Chocolate with Almond and Chocolate with Hazelnut.

Minneapolis – Target Corp. will reportedly testify about its recent massive holiday data breach in a Congressional hearing in early February 2014. According to Reuters, a Congressional commerce, manufacturing and trade subcommittee headed by Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb.) will investigate large data breaches and their effect on consumers.

Los Angeles – American Apparel has opened a newly remodeled and expanded store in Berlin, Germany. Located in Mitte, the central borough of Berlin, the store was originally opened in February 2007 as American Apparel's third location in the city.

St. Louis — Bar Louie will open its newest location on January 21 in St. Charles, Mo.

It will be the chain’s fifth Missouri location. The 6,484-sq.-ft.  bar and eatery will seat 241 patrons.

Canton, Mass. - Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc., the parent company of Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, has entered a multi-year marketing partnership with Liverpool Football Club (FC) to support global expansion of the Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins brands. Under the agreement, Dunkin' Donuts will become the official coffee, tea and bakery partner for Liverpool FC, and Baskin-Robbins will become the official ice cream partner.