Data & Analytics

Whole Foods uses customer data to improve category management
Whole Foods Market, which is known for its premier shopping experience and customer service, wants to up the ante — especially among loyal shoppers. By partnering with global customer science company dunnhumby, the natural foods grocer will use customer data and insights to evolve its category management and merchandising efforts. Specifically, the chain will apply customer data models, science, and industry-leading processes to make store-level merchandising decisions based on specific customer needs.
Whole Foods Market disappoints
Whole Foods Market on Wednesday reported a disappointing first quarter and also lowered full-year sales and earnings guidance. Net income was $95 million for the quarter ended Jan. 15. The company earned an adjusted 39 cents a share during the quarter, in line with estimates. Total sales in the quarter increased 1.9% to $4.9 billion, less than the Street expected.

Pinterest makes it easier to buy with ‘Shop the Look’

Buying merchandise on Pinterest just got even easier. On Wednesday, Feb. 8, the social media site rolled out a new service called “Shop the Look.” An extension of the company’s Buyable Pins program which enables “pinners” to buy a specific item directly on Pinterest, Shop the Look users can “click on and even buy products they find inside fashion and home decor Pins,” Tim Kendall, Pinterest’s president, explained in the company’s business blog.
AI helps lingerie brand bolster revenue by 60%

Cosabella has found a way to future-proof its business, and simultaneously drive sales. The luxury lingerie brand had no trouble attracting shoppers. But to ensure longevity, brands must convert contacts into loyal customers if they want to grow their market share. Cosabella took a proactive step in this process by adopting an artificial intelligence (AI) platform from Emarsys, to revolutionize the role of its marketers.
Cybersecurity report reveals who consumers trust most in securing data

When it comes to securing their online data, Americans have more confidence in online marketplaces than traditional retailers. Fifty-four percent of Americans who shop online trust online marketplaces such as eBay and Amazon, with their financial information, according to a report by Blumberg Capital. In contrast, only 33% of consumers trust established retail brands such as Walmart, Gap, Target, and Macy’s.
Target tops among retailers in this key area

Target Corp. leads other retailers when it comes to reaching and attracting qualified talent. The discounter ranked the highest (at No. 26) among Fortune 500 retail-ers for employment branding in a study by global talent solutions com-pany WilsonHCG. Target was followed by Publix (No. 42), The Home Depot (No. 50), Walmart (No. 64), Nordstrom (No. 77) and Whole Foods Market (No. 115). No retailer cracked the top 10, which was led by Gen-eral Electric, Johnson & Johnson and AT&T.
Walgreens CIO to launch marketing startup

The person charged with leading Walgreens Boots Alliance’s digital transformation, is leaving the company in March. Abhi Dhar, who has essentially served as chief digital officer and CIO of the drugstore giant since 2015, is stepping down from the company to launch an online marketing startup for the retail sector, reported CIO.com. He will serve as CEO of the start-up.
The Container Store to test smaller store format

The nation’s leading home storage products retailer is going to try on a smaller footprint. The Container Store Group on Tuesday said it plans to open locations in Cleveland; Livingston, New Jersey; and Staten Island, New York, as well as relocate its store in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
Study: Online food shopping set to explode

Within the next decade, online food shopping will reach maturation in the U.S., far faster than other industries that have come online before. At least that’s according to the “Digitally Engaged Food Shopper,” a report from the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and Nielsen that takes a comprehensive look into the behaviors, motivations and expectations of the digitally-engaged food shopper.
Grocery chain shifts to end-to-end supply chain systems

Disparate systems have no place in the age of “on demand” shopping. To continue serving its increasingly demanding shoppers — and fuel its continued expansion — Smart & Final is replacing its homegrown solutions with an integrated end-to-end merchandising, planning and execution solution from JDA Software Group.
Sacramento mall charted steady growth in 2016

Arden Fair Mall in Sacramento released its annual sales report this week and verified the fact that not all traditional malls are on the endangered list. The 1,112,000-sq.-ft. property, owned by Arden Fair Associates and managed by Macerich, showed consistent month to month growth through 2016, capped by a 10% year-over-year sales increase in December, according to the accounting.
Report: Super Bowl pays off for online grocers

Not only was the 2017 Super Bowl a game for the record books, it also drove shoppers to their favorite e-grocers to prep for the big game. As time-pressed Americans football fans shopped with online grocers for game day necessities, they spent more than $150.18 per order — just a few cents more than the average cart size of all goods purchased on Black Friday, which was $149.68.