Consumer Analytics

Denton, Texas - Sally Beauty Holdings Inc. has announced it is currently investigating reports of unusual activity involving payment cards used at some of its Sally Beauty stores in the United States. The retailer reported a security breach that may have exposed fewer than 25,000 customer credit card numbers in 2014; media reports indicate this is a separate incident.

New York – American Express is launching a new loyalty program called Plenti. The program lets consumers use loyalty points accrued at one participating retailer and use them at another.

Initial participating organizations include AT&T, Exxon, Macy’s, Mobil, Nationwide, Rite Aid, Direct Energy, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Hulu. The program is expected to include more brands in additional categories over time.

Only 53% of executives believe the EMV chip and pin will protect against a data breach, despite claims that it is more secure, according to a new study.

Shopper sentiment surged in the first quarter of 2015 amid optimism over the labor market, job stability, personal finances and gas prices, according to a new survey.

Weis Markets says its customer experience strategy is paying off, as the grocery chain credited the effort with its increase in same store sales in the first quarter.

San Francisco -- Shoppers think it is cool to get digital help finding relevant products and information – and navigating the store, according to a study by RichRelevance. But they are creeped out by digital capabilities that identify, track and use location and demographics, such as targeted advertisements based on facial recognition. In addition, the dressing room is the one area where personalized product information and recommendations are not welcome.

By Jessica Lee, senior manager of mobile, HelloWorld

London - Online retailing pioneer Amazon Inc. has climbed to the top of the retail social media ranks, thanks in part to the introduction of #AmazonBasket. According to the latest Retail Social Media Benchmark results from eDigitalResearch, since the introduction of the new social media shopping functionality, Amazon has added 700,000 new followers to its U.K. Twitter account in the past six months, bumping them up to second overall, just behind leaders Topshop.

Jacksonville, Fla. - Bi-Lo Holdings, parent company of Bi-Lo, Harveys and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, is launching a new smartphone app and improved website for each banner that now delivers personalized digital coupons based on each customer’s shopping habits. Bi-Lo is partnering with digital coupon provider Coupons.com to deliver the personalized coupons.

Additional features of the new mobile app and enhanced website include:

San Diego – Consumers are using social media to connect not just with high school classmates and former flames, but with retailers. According to Interactions’ latest Retail Perceptions report, “Social Media: Invest to Impress?”, more than 75% of social media users expect retailers to have a social media presence, and 42% prefer to shop at retailers that connect with them through social media.