Business Analytics

The theme of SAP’s annual Sapphire conference, in Orlando, Florida, was “Run Simple.” SAP focused on how its HANA business intelligence platform and growing number of HANA-powered applications can assist companies with the complicated task of creating simple enterprises that run on real-time data.

However, underneath the SAP-specific information was a lot of more general insight into how IT is disrupting the way businesses operate and engage their customers. Following are three insights with particular relevance for retailers.

Surging sales at Old Navy helped Gap Inc. offset sales declines at its namesake division and its Banana Republic stores in the first quarter.

Gap Inc. reported that for the first quarter of fiscal 2015, Gap Inc.’s net sales decreased 3% to $3.66 billion compared with $3.77 billion for the first quarter last year.

Brisbane, Calif. -- Bebe Stores Inc. reported a loss of $11.2 million in its third quarter, citing port delays and prolonged cold weather that also created pressure on sales.

Net sales for the quarter, ended April 30, increased 4.1% to $92.7 million, as compared to $89.0 million in the year-ago period. Same-store sales increased 1.2%.

Sprouts Farmers Market cited strong top-line sales growth as among the reasons for the retailer’s 4.8% comp increase for the first quarter.

Net sales for the first quarter ended March 29 were $857.5 million, a 19% increase compared to the same period in 2014. Net sales growth was driven by strong performance in new stores opened and a 4.8% increase in same store sales growth, the company said.

Pittsburgh - Revenue from shoppers on smartphones rose 73% over the last year, according to a new report from Branding Brand's Mobile Commerce Index released Wednesday. In April 2015, smartphone revenue accounted for 13% of total online revenue, which represented a 63% year-over-year increase.
 

New York -- An early Easter that drew shoppers into stores in March and slowing economic growth helped cut into retailers’ April sales results.

At Costco Wholesale Corp., April same-store sales were flat, slightly below analysts’ estimates, primarily due to the strong U.S. dollar and lower gas prices. Sales at U.S. stores increased 2% for the four weeks ended May 3. Internationally, sales fell 4%.  

Total revenue inched up 2% to $8.75 billion.

Boca Raton, Fla. -- Office Depot Inc. on Tuesday reported a first-quarter net profit of $45 million, compared with a loss of $109 million in the year-ago period. Its results met analysts’ expectations.

The office supply retailer said excluding non-recurring items, including costs associated with the planned acquisition of Office Depot by Staples Inc. adjusted earnings per share were 13 cents, matching the FactSet consensus.

Commerce, Calif. -- Smart & Final Stores Inc. reported earnings of $4.9 million in its first quarter, compared with a profit of $2.5 million last year. Revenue for the period ended March 22 rose 11.9% to $822.2 million. Same-store sales climbed 6.1%.

"The year is off to a strong start, with Smart & Final Stores delivering against our business plans and financial objectives," said Dave Hirz, president and CEO.

Store closures led Office Depot sales to decline in the first quarter, but the retailer still reported a sizable bump in profit.

Hancock Fabrics’s CEO says the company is “heading in the right direction” after reporting an increase in same store sales for the fourth quarter.

The financial news comes just a few weeks after the retailer announced the refinancing of the company’s existing senior debt under a new credit agreement with Wells Fargo Capital Finance and Great American Capital Partners.