Data & Analytics

Omnichannel retailing — or as it is increasingly known, “retailing” — is complex and can increase costs for retailers. Here are a few ways retailers can improve store-level fulfillment to increase both profits and customer service.
 

Amazon will be promoting its growing portfolio of original content available to Prime members on 20,000 movies screens after reaching a multi-year agreement with National CineMedia.

The number of retail industry innovators on the agenda for Shoptalk now exceeds 230 and organizers of the event slated for mid-May aren’t done yet.

American Eagle Outfitters announced that Mary Boland, chief financial and administrative officer, plans to retire effective April 1, 2016.

The retailer is currently conducting an active search for a successor.

In the interim, Scott Hurd, American Eagle’s chief accounting officer, will lead the day-to-day management of the finance team and assume the role of interim CFO.

San Antonio-based fast fashion retailer A’Gaci is all about staying current with trends.

Not only does A’Gaci maintain a close eye on what its customer base of 18-to-24-year-old women is wearing, but also on trends in-store performance. Operating 65 stores in 10 states and Puerto Rico with plans to add 20 more U.S. locations in the next year, A’Gaci needs a current view of what’s happening in its brick-and-mortar space.

There is an endless variety of ways hackers can attempt to gain access to retailers’ networks, but a few are particularly common.

In a new study, “Data Breach Digest,” Verizon identifies 18 different data breach scenarios drawn from analyzing more than 1,200 global cases investigated by the Verizon Risk Team in the past three years.

“There is a lot more commonality than most people realize,” said Chris Novak, director of investigative response, Verizon Enterprise Solutions.

Without light, design doesn’t exist and cannot be seen or experienced. Increasingly, light goes beyond the purely function to perform an aesthetic role in assuming center stage. Much of this enhanced role is a byproduct of almost limitless possibilities that now exist to use light sources in places and ways that were previously inconceivable.

Light is no longer just about seeing. More and more, it is being used as a design tool integral to creating exciting retail environments. With that in mind, here are five new ways to think about light:

The CEO of 1-800-Flowers.com is stepping down, but leadership of the 40-year-old company is staying in the family.

The company announced that effective June 30, Jim McCann, founder, chairman and CEO, will transition to the position of executive chairman and Chris McCann, president and Jim McCann's brother, will become CEO. The company says the announcement coincides with the 40th anniversary of the company’s founding and is an integral part of its long-term succession plan.

In an effort to stay competitive in a field crowded with big players, 27-unit, Minneapolis-based grocery retailer Lunds & Byerlys is creating a highly personalized omnichannel experience.

Lunds & Byerleys is partnering with omnichannel commerce technology provider Unata to launch a new e-commerce and digital customer engagement program. The seamless experience-based program is currently live in six locations with subsequent stores to be rolled out by the end of March.

Supply chain issues are a potential threat for any retailer, but grocery chains need to be particularly vigilant in tracking products from source to shelf.

High-profile product recalls in recent years have resulted in brand damage, lawsuits, and even prison terms for executives of companies involved. While the source brands typically face more regulatory and legal ramifications, it is still wise for retailers of produce and other food items to invest in technologies that use automation to minimize the likelihood or impact of such events.