Data & Analytics

Amazon expands its growing Chicago-based fulfillment services
To uphold its reputation of providing the fastest possible delivery to its shoppers, Amazon is preparing to open a new fulfillment center in Monee, Ill. This is the third warehouse planned for the suburbs of Chicago. The 850,000-plus-sq.-ft. facility will facilitate the picking, packing and shipping of small items, such as books, electronics and consumer goods.
Walmart cutting 7,000 jobs
Walmart is eliminating about 7,000 back-office positions at its U.S. stores, with the majority of the cuts in the accounting and invoicing areas. The move, which was first reported by The Wall Street Journal, follows a test earlier this summer at 500 stores in the West to cut three administrative accounting and invoicing jobs at each store.

Sales rise at Dollarama, beating expectations

While some specialty chains struggle to meet earnings predictions, Dollarama reported better-than-expected second quarter results. The Montreal-based discount chain’s net income was $106.4 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2017, ended July 31, 2016 — up 11.4% from $95.5 million for the same period last year.
PREIT installs Amazon lockers at 15 malls

PREIT unveiled Amazon lockers at 15 of its mall locations on the East coast, making it one of the first mall owners to engage in this most physical of online-offline integrations. Amazon shoppers who choose the locker option when checking out are notified when their packages have been delivered and can go to the locker location to pick them up. Consumers gain an added convenience and mall tenants get Web shoppers in their stores.
The Buckle sales continue to slip in August

Following a revenue miss in the second quarter, sales continue to slide at The Buckle. For August, same-store sales fell 14.8%, a decrease exceeding the company’s 10.9% same-store loss in July, and a 10.8% drop in the second quarter. Net sales for August also dipped 14.0% to $87.2 million for the four-week period ended August 27, 2016, compared to $101.4 million for the same fiscal month last year, ended August 29, 2015.
PetSmart prepares for more ‘connected' customer experience

PetSmart is no stranger to “using every connection to bring pet parents closer to their pets.” Reinforcing its mission statement, PetSmart will add a next-generation platform that will unify the omnichannel shopping experience, and make it easier for the brand to engage with consumers throughout their path-to-purchase.
Sales keep sliding at J.Crew

J. Crew Group’s efforts to pump up sales at its core brand didn’t quite take off in the second quarter. Total revenues at J.Crew Group decreased 4% to $569.8 million in the second quarter. Total same-store sales fell 8%, its eight consecutive quarterly decrease, with a 9% decline at the company’s namesake brand and a 3% increase at Madewell. J. Crew reported a net loss of $8.6 million, compared with $13.6 million a year ago.
Nordstrom reaps its own rewards from redesigned rewards program

With an eye on personalization and engagement, Nordstrom revamped its Nordstrom Rewards program -- a move that has earned the chain 1.7 million new members since its launch in May. "We heard from our customers that they wanted a more personalized and flexible loyalty program," said Chris Holloway, VP of loyalty, Nordstrom.
Wendy’s honored for energy efficiency

The U.S. Department of Energy recognized The Wendy's Company, and one of its franchisees, Wendco Group, for its energy-saving efforts. Wendy’s Company and Wendco Group, which operates 43 Wendy's restaurants in Alabama and Florida, are participants in the DOE’s Better Buildings Challenge. The program aims to make commercial, public, industrial and residential buildings 20% more energy efficient over the next decade.
Report: Retail rents rising and vacancy rates falling in 2016

Though it forecasts a stronger-than-anticipated closure season, Cushman & Wakefield sees average retail rents ending the year 4.6% higher than they were in 2016. The company’s U.S. Macro Forecast released this week said that consistent demand for space in Class A retail centers is the biggest factor in rental-rate growth. Cushman analysts also predict that 2016 will see a drop in the retail vacancy rate to 5.8% from 6.6% last year — though they see it moving back up to 6% in 2017.
Chico’s Q2 tops Street; cuts 200 jobs in corporate streamlining

Chico’s FAS reported better-than-expected second quarter earnings and announced new cost-saving measures. It also said the president of its namesake brand is stepping down.
Special webinar on the network connectivity during the holiday rush

Don’t miss this Chain Store Age webinar on retailers’ most important selling season: the holidays. Entitled “Holiday Uptime: Preparing your network for the holiday rush,” the presentation will offer tips for developing a network outage plan and offer advice on how to issue-proof a network. It will also reveal common network traps overlooked by retailers.