Data & Analytics

NPD Group: Deep discounts taking a bite out of holiday dollar sales
Dollar sales for holiday 2016 are trending lower than last year — with some exceptions — and retailers are partially to blame. According to The NPD Group’s weekly point-of-sale results for key general merchandise categories across in-store and online channels, dollar sales in the sixth week of the 2016 holiday shopping season were 5% lower than the same week in 2015. Cumulatively, dollar sales in the first six weeks of the 2016 holiday shopping season were 4% behind the first six weeks of the 2015 holiday season.
Specialty outdoor retailer in new sustainability milestone
REI continues its efforts to lead on sustainable operations. The retailer’s newest distribution center, in Goodyear, Arizona, has achieved LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Platinum certification — the highest level in the U.S. Green Building Council’s green building rating system — making it the first DC in the U.S. to achieve both LEED Platinum certification and Net Zero Energy.

Ikea: No more store sleepovers

Ikea stores are so inviting that some teens want to spend the night. Ten of the Swedish home furnishing giant’s stores across the world have been the location of illegal sleepovers, BBC News reported.
Finish Line goes off course in Q3

Finish Line missed analyst estimates for third quarter earnings, an issue the company blames on declines in its apparel and accessories categories. The athletic specialty retailer reported revenue of $371.1 million for the 13 weeks ended Nov. 26, 2016. While this is an increase of 3.0% over the prior year period, it falls short of the consensus estimate of $411.61 million.
Retailers and their customers benefit from a robust enterprise network

Holiday shopping is no longer what it used to be. The rise of online shopping and mobile has transformed the way in which consumers purchase gifts. It is no longer black and white for retailers either, as cutting-edge platform and technology adoption is a pre-requisite in order to remain competitive. And all factors are causing new challenges related to managing and supporting back-office and customer-facing systems, as well as meeting evolving customer expectations.
Luxury brands grab online holiday shoppers through digital disruptors

Upscale brands are grabbing the attention of holiday procrastinators. Three in 10 shoppers are still scrambling to finish holiday shopping, according to the National Retail Federation, and many are jumping online in search of their perfect, albeit “last minute” holiday gifts.
comScore: Online desktop sales climb one week before Christmas

With only days to go in the 2016 holiday shopping season, online desktop spending continues to rise. For the holiday season-to-date, $55.2 billion has been spent online, marking a 13% increase versus the corresponding days last year. The most recent week, Dec. 12-18, posted a strong 15% growth in online sales, marking $7.6 billion in desktop spending during the last full week before Christmas.
7-Eleven completes first month of drone deliveries

7-Eleven has completed 77 autonomous drone deliveries to customer homes in the United States. Through its collaboration with Flirtey, a service that supports commercial drone deliveries to customer homes in the United States, the convenience store chain conducted regular weekend deliveries to mobile shoppers during November. A dozen select shoppers used a custom app to place orders, which were fulfilled from a dedicated 7-Eleven store, the company said.
Survey: Online spend per gift rises; outerwear most popular gift

Consumers are spending more money per gift online this holiday season than last — 49% more to be exact. That’s according to e-gifting platform and service Look Commerce, which announced insights into consumer gifting behavior and top gifts purchased between Dec. 10 and Dec. 16, 2016.
Two more Amazon DCs on the way

Amazon is continuing to build out its already expansive fulfillment network. The online giant plans to open two new facilities in Aurora, Ill, generating more than 1,000 additional full-time jobs with benefits to the state. Amazon currently operates warehouses in Edwardsville, Joliet and three facilities in Romeoville. Another depot is currently under construction in Monee.
Technical problem could prove costly to Amazon

Did Amazon’s website had a technical glitch on one of the biggest shoppings day of the year? According to various reports, Amazon’s site had a glitch on “Super Saturday” that temporarily prevented customers from making purchases.
LinkedIn expert to lead workshop at SPECS 2017

For more than half a century, Chain Store Age’s annual SPECS conference has delivered one of the retail industry’s most important and impactful events. The 2017 event, to be held March 12-14 at the Gaylord Palms, Kissimmee, Florida, will cover a wide range of emerging and evolving issues, focusing on must-see innovations and essential information about trends, topics and technologies that will be impacting the industry for many years to come.