Data & Analytics

Webinar: How to increase sales—even with lower store traffic
It’s not just how much traffic a store gets. It’s what the store does with the traffic that matters. Chain Store Age will present a webinar on how retailers can increase sales even when challenged with lower store traffic. Store traffic analytics expert Mark Ryski will draw on real-world, data-rich examples as he provides critical information on how retailers can drive significantly better retail performance for the holiday season and beyond—despite persistent ‘traffic trouble’.
Visa teams up with Oracle to offer retailers feedback on online ads
Visa and Oracle are partnering to provide merchants with new insights regarding their digital ads. Visa has introducted Visa Advertising Solutions, a new suite of products available to retailers through the Oracle Data Cloud. It is designed to help merchants understand whether their digital advertising efforts are influencing consumer purchase decisions online and in stores.

Amazon working on new delivery technology?

Amazon is always exploring new and more efficient ways to get its goods to customers. In what could be its latest move, the Internet giant might be working with a company developing technology that would allow delivery people temporary access when they’re making deliveries, according to a report by techcrunch.com. For more, click here.
Online sales to hit major milestone this holiday season

According to eMarketer’s holiday sales preview forecast, ecommerce will surpass 10% of total U.S. holiday retail sales for the first time this year. Total retail sales will increase 3.3% over the same period last year, to $884.50 billion, according to the report. Holiday retail ecommerce sales will jump to $94.71 billion, representing 10.7% of total holiday retail sales.
Online menswear retailer switches to RFID tags to improve ops

The Black Tux has implemented new RFID tags to speed delivery and improve order accuracy. The online formal wear rental company has implemented RFID tags from Fujitsu Frontech North America Inc., including its new washable UHF RFID fashion tag as well as its rugged linen tag to reduce garment processing time and improve order accuracy.
Survey: Election outcome unlikely to affect holiday spending

Americans will open their purses for holiday shopping regardless of whether Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump wins the election. A survey of American voters by RetailNext found the vast majority will not let the outcome of election 2016 affect their planned spending this coming holiday season.
Study: Site experience makes Amazon first with consumers in product search

A high-quality site experience makes Amazon the place where more than half (55%) of consumers go to first for products online. That’s according to the second annual “State of Amazon” study from personalization platform company BloomReach, which found that search engines and retailers lost almost equal ground with consumers, 28% and 16% respectively, while Amazon increased its share by 11% over last year. Fifty-three percent felt Amazon had the best site experience overall.
Summerlin master-plan community to host Las Vegas Black Knights

Las Vegas’s first major sports franchise, the National Hockey League’s Black Knights, will build a practice facility in the Summerlin master-plan community west of the Strip.
Target shakeup: New chief digital officer is already out

That was fast. Jason Goldberger, the recently promoted chief digital officer of Target Corp., has left the company, effective immediatedly. No reason was given for his departure. Goldberger's responsibilities will be split, with Target CIO Mike McNamara overseeing the website and digital operations, and chief merchandising officer Mike Tritton taking on pricing and promotions.
Prime membership is rising quickly

Half of all American households might have an Amazon Prime membership by the end of this year.

Cowen and Company analyst John Blackledge estimates that approximately 44% of U.S. households are Prime members, and that penetration could accelerate to 50% by the end of the year, according to a report by CNBC.

Prime has maintained healthy growth largely due to [its] increasing value proposition," Blackledge said.
Staples names interim CEO as permanent chief

Staples has chosen a company veteran as its new CEO. The retailer on Monday named Shira Goodman as its president and CEO and as a member of its board of directors, effective immediately. Goodman, who has been been with Staples 24 years, has been serving as interim CEO since May when she took over for Ron Sargent, who resigned in the wake of the company’s failed attempt to acquire rival Office Deport.
Tough year, tough quarter for Neiman Marcus

The nation’s premier luxury department store retailer posted declines in profit and revenue for fiscal 2016. For the full year, Neiman Marcus Group posted a $406.11 million loss, compared to an income of $14.95 million in 2015. For the fourth quarter, the retailer posted a loss of $407.25, compared to a loss of $32.88 million in the year-ago period.