Data & Analytics

Under Armour reports first-ever loss
Bankruptcies in the sporting goods sector is taking a toll on Under Armour, but the brand still managed to beat expectations in its first quarter.
Study: Data must ‘deliver’ in the age of personalization
Companies are adopting more solutions to gain a 360-degree view of each customer. While 88% of companies believe their investments help their organization understand customer needs, only 61% of consumers agree — a gap that is costing retailers $62 billion a year, according to research from Talend. The provider of cloud and big data integration software surveyed 361 IT leaders and 1,094 consumers in the United States, the U.K., France, and Germany.

Teen apparel chain improves leasing efforts

A new accounting standard is pushing Tilly’s to get a better handle on its lease administration. The new accounting standard, FASB ASC 842, requires non-governmental companies to include lease obligations on their balance sheets. To avoid a compliance burden, the teen apparel retailer will use software from Accruent to manage leases for its 222 stores.
Study: Most retail associates will use mobile solutions within three years

More retailers are putting mobile devices into their associates’ hands. Momentum is so strong that within three years, 89% of retailers will give their associates access to mobile solutions, according to “The Mobile World of Retail,” a report from Boston Retail Partners. BRP surveyed the top North American retailers to explore the current state of how mobile technology is shaping retail capabilities, priorities and processes.
Barnes & Noble names new CEO — its fourth in four years

Barnes & Noble has ended its quest for a new chief executive with an in-house promotion. The struggling bookseller named Demos Parneros as CEO, effective immediately. Parneros, who has served as COO of Barnes & Noble since November 2016, is a longtime Staples veteran. Prior to joining Barnes & Noble, he was president of North American stores & online for the office supply giant.
HSNi on hunt for new CEO as Mindy Grossman leaves retail for…

One of the retail industry’s most high-profile and powerful female executives has been tapped as CEO of Weight Watchers International. Mindy Grossman will step down as chief executive of HSNi effective May 24. She will take the reins as president and CEO of Weight Watchers, effective in July, and will also join the Weight Watchers board at that time.
Online marketplace’s styling service gets personal

Poshmark is expanding its one-to-one shopping experience. With the launch of Posh Dressing Room, the retailer is connecting buyers with a personal “Seller Stylist,” a move that fosters the experience of shopping in a physical boutique. The service makes online shopping easier and more customized for consumers, and enables its sellers to expand their online boutiques, according to Poshmark.
Footwear retailer launches responsive e-commerce platform

The Aldo Group is making strides on its digital transformation journey. The retailer has launched a new responsive website and e-commerce platform that will integrate retail online, in-store and mobile channels. The move comes as Aldo transitions leadership, with company founder Aldo Bensadoun naming his son, David Bensadoun, as the new CEO earlier this month.
Go Beyond Omnichannel to Create a True, Single View of Your Company

Omnichannel promised to integrate physical and digital channels, allowing retailers to deliver a seamless shopping experience. But in reality, because of stand-alone, legacy systems, many of these channels operate in silos, making it difficult to achieve full transparency and causing missed opportunities.
Fashion retailer moves data out of the ‘lake’ and into the cloud

Harnessing customer-specific data is paramount for RueLaLa to engage shoppers and foster long-term customer relationships.
Big center going up near Disney World

Williams Company Southeast has announced plans to break ground on what it claims will be the biggest to be built in Central Florida for years. Vineland Point, a 447,500-sq.-ft. project developed by O’Connor Capital Partners on I-4 and Daryl Carter Parkway in Orlando exceeds the size of The Crosslands, another O’Connor project constructed by Williams that opened in Kissimmee in 2015.
Consumer confidence slips in April

April's consumer confidence metric didn't live up to the new benchmark established in March, when consumer confidence reached a 16-year high. This month, the Index declined to 120.3 from 124.9 in March.