Business Analytics

New York - Dynamic retail marketing agency TPN is hiring analytics industry veteran Taymour Matin as managing director, data and analytics, a newly created position. Previously, analytics folded into TPN's planning and perspectives team, but as part of TPN's growth strategy, the new department has been created to better capitalize on the agency's proprietary research and technology-driven retail analytical capabilities.

Foothill Ranch, Calif. - The Wet Seal Inc. will begin winding down its Arden B brand. Arden B currently operates 54 mall-based stores and an e-commerce website.

Atlanta – Severe weather had a negative impact on financial performance at Aaron’s Inc. during the first quarter of fiscal 2014. Compared to the same period a year earlier, Aaron’s net earnings declined 25% to $38.3 million from $51 million.

Revenues dropped 1% to $585.4 million compared to $593.0 million for the first quarter in 2013. Same-store sales shrank 2.1%.

Sunbury, Pa. – Weis Markets plans to invest $101 million in its growth program in 2014. That figure encompasses spending on 16 projects during 2014, including expansion of Weis’ 1.1-million-sq.-ft. distribution center in Milton, Pennsylvania.

Whirlpool Corporation reaffirmed its full-year guidance following first quarter results.

Net sales in the quarter were $4.4 billion compared to $4.2 billion during the same prior-year period. Excluding the impact of foreign currency in addition to Brazilian (BEFIEX) tax credits, sales increased approximately 6%.

Pleasanton, Calif. – Safeway reported a net loss of $76.5 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2014, compared to net earnings of $118.9 million in the same period a year earlier. The company is working toward closing its $9.4 billion merger with Albertson’s by the fourth quarter of the current fiscal year.

Ottawa, Canada – 360pi has formally launched the 360pi Partner Program. This initiative provides a framework for retail technology providers to leverage 360pi's pricing intelligence in their solutions.

Brentwood, Tenn. -- Tractor Supply Co. reported an 11% rise in profit for the quarter ended March 29, to $48.8 million from $44 million last year.

Revenue rose 9% to $1.18 billion, and same-store sales increased 2.2% versus a 0.5% increase in the prior year period.

For the full year, the company said it expects capital expenditures to range between $240 million and $250 million, including spending to support 102 to 106 new store openings and construction of the new Store Support Center to open in 2014.

A precipitous decline in gun and ammunition sales caused a 21.7% drop in first quarter same store sales at Cabela’s where profits were half the prior year level.

Firearms and ammunition sales declined 39% and 32%, respectively, during the first quarter ended March 29, and total company sales declined 9.6% to $725.8 million. Profits totaled $25.7 million, or 36 cents a share, compared to $49.8 million, or 70 cents a share, the first quarter the prior year.

New York - The eight-day run up to Easter 2014 fell shy of the previous year’s comparable period by 9.3% in traffic and 8.9% in sales. According to data from retail analytics provider RetailNext, there was a 1.2- percentage-point improvement in conversion, which helped generate a sales decline that was less than the traffic decline.