Predictive Analytics

ARMONK, N.Y. -- Consumers shopping online for Mother’s Day gifts was up 15%, spurred by mobile commerce growth of 23% over 2012, according to IBM’s Digital Analytics Benchmark, a cloud-based analysis of the online retail market.

Toronto – Continuing income growth means today’s Canadian youth will assume more spending power than their parents currently have during the course of their lifetimes, according to a new report from BMO Economics. The report cites ongoing gains in real media income and compensation, as well as expected future decreases in unemployment, in making this rosy forecast.

CINCINNATI, Ohio — DunnhumbyUSA, a global leader in building brand value for consumer goods and retail companies, has made changes to its Cincinnati-based senior leadership.

The company has hired Ernest Leffler as VP of global infrastructure and Michele Weissman as VP of client solutions. The company has also promoted Jack Engle to the role of SVP of global products and services.

New York -- With 25% of annual flower sales (for an estimated $1.9 billion) tied to Mother’s Day, it’s no wonder the holiday looms large for 1-800-Flowers. IBM is helping the retailer simplify Mother’s Day gift-giving for its digital customers no matter where or how they shop, including through the website, with a mobile device or via social media.

Princeton – A substantially higher percentage of Americans (60%) would rather save money than spend it (37%), according to a new Gallup poll. Consumer show little difference in these preferences according to demographic categories such as age, gender, education and political party.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — JDA Software Group has launched six JDA Cloud Optimize services designed to enable customers to enhance and transform their supply chains.

Moving beyond simply organizing information, JDA Cloud Optimize teams work hand in hand with customers to generate concrete recommendations and offer contextually relevant insights into big data challenges facing every global enterprise today. 

CINCINNATI, Ohio — KSS Retail, a global provider of price optimization and shopper insight solutions for the grocery, convenience, chain drug, general and online retail industries, has launched a new product that will enable businesses to efficiently harness data for more accurate forcasting.

Called PriceStrat Analyzer, the advanced business intelligence solution is designed to help the retail industry identify trends and exceptions so they can make faster, more accurate decisions about pricing and promotions. 

Sometimes the shortest pieces of advice are the best. Here are a few nuggets of wisdom pulled from Chain Store Age’s conversations with five leading real estate advisers and technology experts.