Consumer Analytics

Improved customer service programs and a better store experience helped regional grocery chain Weis Markets post a jump in same store sales for the fourth quarter.

The Sunbury, Pa.-based food retailer reported that its fourth quarter same store sales increased 3.5%, while its net sales increased 4% to $713.8 million. During the 13-week period ending Dec. 27, the company's earnings per share totaled 51 cents compared to 59 cents for the same period in 2013. The company's fourth quarter net income declined 11.6% to $13.9 million.

Target is trying to increase its appeal with Hispanic shoppers by launching a new marketing campaign focusing on customs that are unique to many Latino communities.

The campaign, called “Sin traduccion,” or “No translation,” will feature two television ads, as well as digital and in-store components.

According to Ad Age, the campaign is meant to be a celebration of moments, traditions and emotions that are treasured by many in the Hispanic culture and spark a larger conversation with the community.

Retailers often use in-store beacons to push promotions to customer mobile phones as they pass by. But video game retailer GameStop Corp., which operates more than 4,200 U.S. stores, takes a different approach.

“In the store, we have multiple pieces signage marking the location of beacons,” said Charlie Larkin, senior director of GameStop Technology Institute, the retailer’s in-house IT development center. “There are seven to 14 beacons across different zones of the store, depending on store size.”

Reston, Va. - Online shoppers around the world want the ability to search and shop on multiple channels and devices, expect to see alternate delivery and payment options, and when it comes to shipping and returns, “free” is a driving factor to complete the sale. According to the second UPS Pulse of the Online Study conducted with comScore Inc., American online shoppers are open to new trends on social media and in-store technologies, making more purchases on tablets than any other market.

Target is trying to increase its appeal with Hispanic shoppers by launching a new marketing campaign focusing on customs that are unique to many Latino communities.

The campaign, called “Sin traduccion,” or “No translation,” will feature two television ads, as well as digital and in-store components.

According to Ad Age, the campaign is meant to be a celebration of moments, traditions and emotions that are treasured by many in the Hispanic culture and spark a larger conversation with the community.

Publix, Aldi and H-E-B now share something else besides operating in the grocery sector: They all do a stupendous job of serving their customers.

According to a study of 10,000 U.S consumers, the three supermarket chains earned the highest scores in the 2015 Temkin Experience Ratings. The list ranks 293 companies across 20 industries.

Joining those firms in the top 12 spots are retailers Chick-fil-A, PetSmart, Amazon.com, Trader Joe's, Papa John's, Walgreens, and Hannaford's.

Portland, Ore. -- Only 18% of retail IT security professionals expressed concerned that point of sale devices were being targeted by cyber criminals, and only 20% were “confident” that point of sale devices were securely configured, according to a study by Tripwire examining the impact of emerging enterprise security threats connected with the Internet of Things (IoT) in the retail industry.

Palo Alto, Calif. - Global information company The NPD Group has partnered with Slice Intelligence to provide comprehensive, retailer-independent e-commerce data available. For the first time, NPD will offer comprehensive, cross-retailer e-commerce data that is directly measured from e-receipts from Slice’s panel of two million consumers.

The data will be classified using NPD’s industry-standard product dictionaries, and validated by NPD’s benchmark databases.

New York -- Fitness buffs can shop and also get in a workout at Nike’s new women’s store at Fashion Island, in Newport Beach, California. The 6,000-sq-ft. plus space combines the best of the company’s women’s products with an in-store fitness studio.

The glass- and wood-paneled studio, the first for Nike in a U.S. retail location, features free group or personal fitness training sessions. It also enable customers to try out training and running footwear and apparel.

It's the question on many branded manufacturers’ minds at the moment. Either you’re starting to think about ways to sell directly to consumers, or you’re brainstorming ideas to enhance your online strategy. E-commerce has shaken up the traditional model of selling solely to wholesalers and retailers. It’s also presented brands with new ways to engage with consumers and increase sales.