Business Intelligence (BI)

Retailers are not feeling confident that their pricing strategies are satisfying consumers.
 
A new report on pricing conducted by RSR Research and sponsored by retail consulting and analytics firm Precima, “Pricing 2016: Life Becomes Unmanageable,” reveals retailers are worrying that consumers do not believe they are priced competitively enough.
 

American Apparel is providing store managers with new insight into traffic and conversion so they can better perform staffing.

The specialty apparel chain is deploying StoreForce across all of its 202 stores in 19 countries. The solution allows managers to schedule store associates based on traffic patterns. It also delivers real-time performance metrics such as conversion rates. This allows managers to react to real-time opportunities to drive sales.

Online home furnishings retailer Wayfair Inc. is rolling out an in-house-developed display advertising platform that will deliver tailored messages and collect customer data.

Known as Magellan, the platform was built in-house by Wayfair’s engineering, data science, and marketing teams. Magellan leverages enhanced bidding models that allow the flexibility to continually enhance targeting capabilities over time. This targeting also lets third-party Wayfair Media Solutions users extend the reach of their advertising programs.

Consumers who use mobile devices for shopping are prime targets for retailer loyalty programs.   According to a new study from Forrester Research, “Master Your Mobile Loyalty Moments,” customers who participate in loyalty programs are more likely to be mobile. Forrester data shows 31% of loyalty program members, but only 15% of all U.S. online adults, will use a brand’s mobile app.  

The nation’s top two extreme-value discounters aren’t feeling the retail malaise that affected department stores and many specialty retailers in the first quarter.  

The nation’s leading auto parts retailer produced modest sales and profit growth during its third quarter but managed to achieve double digit earnings per share growth thanks to stock buyback activity.

AutoZone sales increased 4% to $2.6 billion during the quarter ended May 7, thanks to the addition of new stores and a 2% same-store sales increase. Net income increased 6% to $327.5 million, while earning per share increased 12.6% to $10.77 as the company spent $533 million to repurchase 687,000 shares.

Rent-to-own retailer Rent-A-Center Inc. has named Angela Yochem to senior VP, IT and CIO.

Yochem’s responsibilities will include developing Rent-A-Center’s IT talent; expanding recently developed technologies; enhancing the company’s web, online and mobile solutions; and providing technology leadership for new opportunities.

Toys “R” Us Inc. is creating a new position of CTO and turning to a veteran of American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) to fill it.
 
Lance Wills will join Toys “R” Us as executive VP, global CTO effective June 13. He will report directly to chairman and CEO Dave Brandon. In his newly created role, Wills will oversee global and IT digital strategy, including governance and infrastructure.
 

When store managers have timely access to traffic and conversion data, good things happen.
 

Wayfair Inc. has appointed Chad Ghosn VP of IT infrastructure and security.

Ghosn will oversee a large engineering team that is responsible for scaling Wayfair’s infrastructure system to meet customer demands and company needs. Before joining the online home furnishings retailer, Ghosn led the infrastructure team at Expedia Inc.

Prior to his role at Expedia, Ghosn spent more than a decade in various infrastructure leadership positions at Dell Inc. Previously, he led network operations for Kaiser Permanente.