Data & Analytics

For Tractor Supply Company, buy-online-pickup-in-store is proving a win-win, for both itself and its customers.    With more than 1,600 stores in 49 states, Tractor Supply is the nation's largest operator of stores dedicated to a rural lifestyle. Online and offline, it offers a wide range of merchandise, from welders and generators to an-imal care products to men and women's workwear. Stores are typically located in towns outlying major metropolitan markets and in rural com-munities.   

The news that Walgreens is to scrap its $9.4 billion merger with Rite Aid is unsurprising. The glacial pace of the Federal Trade Commission investigation and increasing signals that the federal government would disallow the merger have forced a rethink.  

To be competitive, retailers must have a strong digital marketing strategy to be seen and heard, attract new customers, and build stronger relationships with existing ones. Spending on digital advertising is on the rise. In 2017, U.S. digital advertising is on pace to surpass expenditures on TV ads. Globally, more than 40% of media advertising budgets in certain markets are devoted to digital marketing, according to media company Magna.  

Pier I Imports reduced its loss in the first quarter amid a boost in its gross margin and other operational improvements.   Pier 1 reported its first-quarter loss narrowed to $3 million, or 4 cents a share, from $6 million, or 7 cents a share, a year earlier. Its results beat expectations.   

Sycamore Partners has a plan for its newest retail acquisition, Staples.   The private equity firm, which purchased the office supply giant for $6.9 billion on Wednesday, plans to divide the chain into three separately financed units: U.S. retail; Canadian retail; and corporate-supply businesses, reported The Wall Street Journal reported. The three units will all remain under the same corporate umbrella.  

The drug store industry awoke Thursday morning to arguably the biggest story of the year — the news that Walgreens and Rite Aid had agreed to scrap their original merger agreement one more time, this time in favor of a much smaller, seemingly more manageable deal to purchase 2,186 Rite Aid stores for $5.18 billion in cash.    In the first several hours following the announcement of the deal, Chain Store Age sister publication, Drug Store News identified five important takeaways from the blockbuster agreement. 

Proposed cuts in food stamp benefits could cost the the retail industry billions — with supermarkets and discounters taking the biggest hit.    AlixPartners estimates that retail collectively stands to lose $70.7 billion during the next 10 years if the proposed cuts in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (commonly referred to as food stamps) turn into reality, CNBC reported. The budget proposed by the Trump administration calls for $191 billion in cuts to the program between 2018 to 2028.  

To stand out in a highly saturated digital marketplace, retailers’ must deliver fast speeds that drive top-notch experiences.    This is according to “E-commerce Performance: What Works, What Doesn’t, and What’s Next?” The report, from Retail Systems Research (RSR), evaluates 80 major retail websites on page speed performance, as well as end user experience.   

Lamps Plus is making it easier for Canadian shoppers to make a purchase.   The specialty lamps retailer debuted lampsplus.ca, an e-commerce website designed to provide a localized experience in Canada. Canadian shoppers have been purchasing from Lamps Plus ever since the retailer debuted online in 1998. However, the new site specifically targets the Canadian market with prices displayed in CAD dollars.   

Best Buy is looking to grab share in one of the hottest categories of the "smart" home market: voice-activated devices.   The retailer is adding Amazon Alexa and Google Home "experiences" to about 700 Best Buy stores nationwide. The new interactive displays will start arriving in stores in July, with the rollout complete by the end of the year.  In addition, there will be an enhanced online presence for the devices on Best Buy's e-commerce site.