Data & Analytics

Specialty grocer commits to solar power
Mom’s Organic Market is extending its renewable energy portfolio. The family owned and operated Maryland-based chain has begun purchasing all power from a designated solar farm in Kingsville, Maryland., bundled with national solar renewable energy credits. This 1.5-megawatt DC system is projected to output 2,124,000 kilowatts per year. Mom’s will purchase the entire system's output for the next 20 years.
New York grocer reaches out to customers
With 15 regional stores, New York-based Fairway Market needs to compete with larger rivals on quality of experience. To that end, Fairway has deployed the omnichannel retail platform from Index to help better communicate with customers and provide an optimal experience across various touchpoints. The platform includes secure in-store payment solutions that offer processing flexibility and are compliant with EMV and P2PE protocols. Fairway can also accept a variety of tender types, including Apple Pay and Android Pay.

Investment, interest in energy efficiency at all-time high

That’s one of the key findings of The 2016 Johnson Controls Energy Efficiency Indicator (EEI) survey of more than 1,200 facility and energy management executives.
Report: J.C. Penney looks abroad for new tech center

The J.C. Penney Co Inc. is reportedly developing a new IT facility in a popular overseas location.
Report: Visa sues Walmart over alleged PIN pilot

Wal-Mart Stores, which filed suit against Visa in May over debit card authorization, is getting taste of its own medicine.
Survey: Back-to-school means back to spending

Parents are increasing their back-to-school budgets, although overall spending is stagnant compared to recent years. According to a new survey of 1,830 U.S. parents of elementary through college students by Mintel, 52% of respondents plan to spend more on back-to-school (BTS) shopping than in 2015. Only 4% plan to spend less, with 44% planning to spend the same. However, overall planned BTS spending dropped to $68 billion in 2015 after ranging from $73 - $76 billion annually from 2010-2014.
Rough seas for Pier 1

Home décor retailer Pier 1 Imports swung to a loss in its first quarter amid heavy promotions caused by weak sales. The chain reported a loss of $6 million for the quarter ended May 28, compared to net income of $6.9 million in the year-ago period. Revenue fell 4.2% to $418.4 million in the quarter, also less than expected. Same-store sales were down 2.5%.
It's back .... Amazon Prime Day

Everyone knew Amazon Prime Day was coming, now we know when and how. Amazon will host its second annual summer sales blitz, known as Prime Day, on July 12. The online giant created the mega-shopping event, aimed at members of its Prime loyalty program, last year. It was held on July 15 and marked the retailer's 20th anniversary. Amazon said the event broke sales records that it previously set during Black Friday 2014.
Electronics accessories brand goes physical

Belkin, which sells accessories for smartphones and tablets, has entered the brick-and-mortar space. The company has opened a store newly renovated Terminal 6 at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) with the Hudson Group. The store, which features a charging station, sells a variety of accessories, including chargers, cables, and screen protectors. It carries about 100 skus.
Study: No fast sale with online shoppers

Retailers like to promote and capture impulse purchases, but need to think longer-term for e-commerce.
Nordstrom to integrate Trunk Club ops, cut jobs

Nordstrom Inc. plans to more closely align operations of its omnichannel Trunk Club business with the rest of the enterprise. The luxury retailer plans to close the dedicated Trunk Club fulfillment center located on Goose Island in Chicago. With the closure, Trunk Club will integrate its operations into the Nordstrom network of fulfillment and distribution centers located across the U.S. The Goose Island facility will transition to its close by August 2017.
Study: Customers get a little satisfaction

“(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” has been the theme song of U.S. consumers for the past two years, but they may need to look for a new anthem.