Data & Analytics

Lululemon has named a new chief technology officer.   According to a report in GeekWire, Julie Averill is joining the retailer as its new executive VP and chief technology officer. Currently, Averill is the CIO at REI.  

Not one, but two leaders in retail real estate have been named to LinkedIn’s Top 50 Companies list.    CBRE came in at No. 18 and Jones Lang LaSalle at No. 21, ahead of such companies as Adobe, Oracle, and Coca-Cola.   The social media site for professionals determines rankings by interest in a company's jobs, interest in a company's brand and employees, and employee retention among its 500-million-plus members.  

As consumers become increasingly digitally influenced, retailers are struggling to find the right mix of technology to drive engagement.  

Gap Inc.’s reported a 12% jump in first quarter profit amid another strong performance from its Old Navy division.    Net income rose to $143 million, or 36 cents per share, in the quarter ended April 29, from $127 million, or 32 cents per share, a year earlier. Its results easily beat the Street, which had predicted earnings of 29 cents per share.   

The Buckle is losing its finance chief.   The apparel retailer on Thursday said that Karen B. Rhoads, senior VP of finance and CFO, will retire later this summer. She will continue to serve as a member of the board. Rhodes joined the Buckle in 1980, and has served as CFO since 1991.     The retailer has hired an executive search firm to assist with the search for Rhoads’ replacement. Rhoads will remain in her role to support the search and to assist with the transition.  

Ace Hardware reported a slight increase in revenue during the first quarter, as well as more substantial progress in net income.   Revenue came in at $1.2 billion, up 0.1% from the first quarter of 2016. Net income of $28.3 million was up 8.4% over the year.   Same-store sales were down 0.2% due to decreased customer traffic, reported by the approximately 3,000 Ace retailers who share daily retail sales data.  

Walmart showed its muscle in the first quarter, reporting a big jump in online sales, an increase traffic at its U.S. stores, and earnings that beat the Street.   

Expansion-minded Ross Stores turned in a solid performance in its first quarter amid what its CEO called “uncertainty and volatility” in the retail environment.    The off-price retailer, which is opening some 80 to 90 stores annually, reported earnings per share for the quarter ended April 29, 2017 of $.82, up from $.73 in the year-ago period. Net earnings grew to $321 million, compared to $291 million in the prior year.