Business Analytics

PayAnywhere, a professional grade mobile point-of-sale solution from North American Bancard, has released PayAnywhere Storefront, its free touchscreen tablet and stand with built-in credit card reader. PayAnywhere Storefront provides new simple pricing, security protection and advanced business analytics.

Minneapolis – Target Corp. cut the compensation of former CEO Gregg Steinhafel to $13 million in fiscal 2013 from $20.6 million in fiscal 2012. According to a regulatory filing, Target decided to reduce Steinhafel’s total compensation after holding meetings and calls with shareholders owning 40% of total company shares and two proxy advisory firms.

New York -- Dillard’s marked its 15th consecutive quarter of positive sales.

Despite weak sales in home and furniture, Dillard’s said sales trends in the first quarter were strongest in the men’s apparel and accessories category and the juniors’ and children’s apparel category followed by ladies’ accessories and lingerie.

The retailer reported total merchandise sales for the quarter of $1.539 billion, a 1% increase from $1.530 billion for the prior-year period. Comparable-store sales increased 2%.

Chicago - Easy2Find is a new online analytics tool designed to simplify food industry research and intelligence at the unit level. It is a joint service offering that joins foodservice data analytics provider CHD Expert and research and consulting firm Technomic.

Easy2Find lets chains see and understand a restaurant's footprint in any given geographic market and restaurant segment. It is designed to allow users to find where competitors are opening new unit locations and how they impact sales, helping to uncover market expansion potential.

Indianapolis — Simon Property Group has named Mona Benisi director of sustainability. Benisi’s responsibilities will include advancing and leading all aspects of Simon’s sustainability strategy. That strategy includes recycling, water management and renewable energy programs.

Benisi will also lead the company’s sustainability task force, direct and manage measurement and reporting of critical sustainability metrics, including CDP, the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark and GRI.

While other retailers saw sales affected by a winter that overstayed its welcome, Dillard’s marked its 15th consecutive quarter of positive sales.

Despite weak sales in home and furniture, Dillard’s said sales trends in the first quarter were strongest in the men’s apparel and accessories category and the juniors’ and children’s apparel category followed by ladies’ accessories and lingerie.

Dallas -- J.C. Penney topped expectations for the first quarter, reporting a 6.2% increase in same-store sales that easily topped views. Revenue for the quarter, which ended May 3, rose to $2.80 billion, above the $2.71 billion analysts expected, up from $2.64 billion in the year-ago period.  

It was the second consecutive month of same-store sales gains for Penney, and the retailer said sales improved sequentially each month within the quarter.

Penney lost $352 million for the quarter, not as much as analysts expected.

Walmart continues to envision flat same store sales at its U.S. stores after reporting weaker than expected profits on weak U.S. sales results that were negatively affected by a winter that wouldn’t end.

Kohl’s joins a growing list of retailers whose first-quarter results took a hit from a severe and extended winter. Despite missing estimates, the company is staying firm on its guidance for the full fiscal year.

New York – Kate Spade & Company earned net income of $46 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2014. This marked a return to profitability after a net loss of $52 million in the prior year period.