Data & Analytics

How a big data firm may have helped Trump win the election
The Trump campaign hired a British data firm that collects data gleamed from such sources retailers’ loyalty cards to help target potential voters.
Pinterest works to drive ad effectiveness
Pinterest is launching a new program designed to help brand partners present more relevant advertising messages to Pinners. Through a partnership with Neustar, Pinterest’s marketing partners now have a solution that leverages the social media platform’s customer-specific information as well as Neustar’s proprietary audiences. The combination of data gives advertisers a standardized view of customer across every marketing channel, and an unprecedented reach among customers.

Report: Nearly half of retailers falling behind in omnichannel efforts

Omnichannel adoption is a prerequisite to remain relevant in today’s retail world. Yet, many retailers are still missing the mark. That is the message delivered in “Five Insights into the Omnichannel Landscape,” a benchmark report from eTail East and WBR Digital. The study reveals progress among multiple retail sectors, including specialty retail, apparel, and high-end fashion apparel, among others.
Toys ‘R’ Us taps Priceline.com vet for digital engineering

In a move to spur its digital transformation, Toys “R” Us has appointed Amit Poddar to head up its digital engineering team. Poddar is joining the toy retailer as senior VP, chief software architect. The addition is the latest strategic move within the company’s massive digital transformation, a project that is focused on integrating technology into every part of the business, and creating a more customer-centric operation.
Zappos ups the ante on holiday shopping with price matching

Eager to keep early omnichannel holiday shoppers from “shopping around, Zappos.com unveiled introduced its “price promise” program. The program, which launched on Oct. 31 and runs through Nov. 20, uses software to automatically price match the site’s most popular products with those found on qualifying online competitors’ sites.
The New Skill Set of Today’s Chief Merchandising Officer

When retail consisted mainly of brick and mortar stores, the role of the chief merchandising officer (CMO) focused almost exclusively on selecting merchandise, designing display strategies and planograms and driving category performance. This role was typically held by people who rose into the role as buyers. That’s because buyers first and foremost excel at spotting the next hottest trend while also having a keen eye on the dollars and cents side of the business.
S.O.S.: The Mobile App as a Lifeline for Brick-and-Mortar Retailers

Consumers gravitate towards convenience for the things that they have to do anyway. They want to get to their intended action with the least amount of unnecessary effort. They’ll even change their behavior to do so. Think of mobile deposits: many consumers have made the switch to using their bank’s mobile app to deposit checks, finding it far more convenient than driving to their local branch or ATM.
WEBINAR: How to improve—and sustain—store associate performance

Chain Store Age will sponsor a webinar on one of the most important issues facing store retailers: How to give frontline store associates the critical knowledge they need to drive sales and customer satisfaction.
Pokemon GO went, but not its legal implications

In the summer of 2016, Pokémon Go was everywhere. And as players traversed the globe in search of the game’s titular critters, they were also wandering into new legal territory. Although the craze now appears to have subsided, the game’s sudden popularity raised intriguing legal questions that will inevitably affect the future of mobile applications and their relationship to retail businesses.
New York & Co. names Sears, Ann Taylor vet to head up marketing and online

New York & Company appointed Michelle Pearlman as executive VP, e-commerce and chief marketing officer. Pearlman, a member of the company’s board of directors since 2011, has resigned from her duties as a director to lead the company’s omnichannel strategy. In her new role, she will be responsible for the apparel retailer’s e-commerce business, as well as all marketing and visual aspects of the chain’s integrated omnichannel strategy.
Hhgregg reports Q2 loss; closes five stores

Consumer electronics and appliance retailer Hhgregg came up short in its second quarter. It also exited the Wisconsin market. The company reported a loss of $18.4 million for the quarter ended Sept. 30, with a loss of 66 cents per share. Losses, adjusted for non-recurring costs and asset impairment costs, came to 51 cents per share. The results fell short of Wall Street expectations.
CVS reports solid third quarter but warns of lower profit

Strong results in its PBM business provided a boost during CVS Health’s fiscal third quarter, with the retailer reporting a 23.6% increase in net earnings to $1.5 billion. Revenue increased 15.5% to $6 billion for the period ended Sept. 30.