Data & Analytics

Another retailer is reporting a less-than-stellar holiday.    Target Corp. on Wednesday cut its guidance for the fourth quarter and year on the heels of a 1.3% decline in same-store sales in November and December. (Total sales for the combined month decreased 4.9%, reflecting the impact of the December 2015 sale of the company’s pharmacy and clinic businesses.)  

When retailers and architects design store layouts, beyond designing for aesthetics they attempt to control the path that shoppers take through the store. Ideally, shoppers follow the most convenient path to find the products they seek, one that is lucrative for the retailer and that gives shoppers the opportunity to notice the maximum number of products during their time in store.  

Lowe's Companies has promoted a 20-year company veteran to CFO.   The retailer announced that Marshall A. Croom will succeed Robert F. (Bob) Hull Jr. as chief financial officer, effective March 3. Hull plans to retire after 17 years with the company.   

Retail sales weren’t the only thing that rose during the 2016 holiday season.    Fraud attempts increased by 31% during the past holiday season, according to data from ACI Worldwide, which, on the positive side, found the number of overall transactions increased by 16%.   

Jeff Katkowsky, VP with Sachse Construction, will share his insights and experiences as part of a panel focused on overcoming obstacles during closeouts at SPECS/2017.  

Macerich is offering retailers a promotional connection to smartphone shoppers at 22 of its properties.   Shoppers will be able to access the StepsAway app via mall Wi-Fi and search for products by category or individual retailer. Macerich tenants can create and deliver promotional offers through a cloud-based platform installed at the company’s headquarters.  

Call 2016 the “year of promotions” in retail, with 44% of all orders during the year sold on promotion, and 67% of all orders sold using a markdown.      That’s according to the DynamicAction Retail Index: 2016 Year-in-Review and 2017 Outlook, which found that rampant promotional and markdown activity led to a 24% margin reduction for North American retailers in 2016.     

Christopher & Banks Corp. on Tuesday announced the departure of its CEO, effective January 17, 2017, and also lowered its fourth quarter guidance after a dismal holiday season.    The women’s apparel retailer said LuAnn Via, president and CEO, has departed the company. Also out: board chairwoman Lisa Wardell.  

Holiday sales not only beat expectations among industry observers, it hit a five-year high.   Retail sales grew by 4.8% through the holiday season, as compared to the same period in 2015 — and November and December spending growth is the strongest it’s been in five years, according to a new report from Visa.   “The Visa Retail Spending Monitor” tracks retail sales, with the exception of autos, gas, and restaurants, among retail goods, services and stores on Visa payment products. 

Walmart has made some big changes in its executive ranks, bringing together management of its Web and retail teams.     The changes, which the chain has not officially announced, come on the heels of media reports that Karenann Terrell would step down as CIO of Wal-Mart Stores on Feb. 24. As reported by CNBC.com, Walmart’s executive realignment includes the following: