Data & Analytics

OpEd: Fewer Good Tidings at the Mall for Holiday 2015
I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, especially during the season to be jolly, but I’m a realist. And though I wish happy holidays for all, I must tell mall retailers to steel themselves for another disappointing holiday season. Deloitte is expecting seasonal sales growth of 3.5% to 4% this year, ahead of inflation but below the 5.2% growth of last year — but don’t expect malls and department stores to see that growth. A disproportionate share of holiday sales will go to the humble discount stores, far away from the fancier shopping centers.
Commentary: Mobile Payment – Not Ready for Prime Time?
I don’t make mobile payments yet. I don’t drink coffee, so I do not frequent Starbucks. However, I have been attempting to get up to speed on the state of the market. As I have a phone running Android, v5.1.1, that’s the best place for me to start, as that’s where my familiarity lies.

Brick-and-mortar isn't dead yet: Converting in-store shoppers to sales

According to analytics reports from Adobe and RetailNext, online sales trumped bricks-and-mortar over Black Friday weekend and the trend looks to continue throughout the 2015 holiday season.
It’s an omnichannel holiday at Hyvee

Regional supermarket co-op Hy-Vee Inc. is giving customers seamless access to their purchases just in time for the holidays.
JCP names new CIO with Target background

J.C. Penney’s efforts to become a world class omnichannel retailer are under the leadership of a new chief information officer with a unique background.

J. C. Penney appointed Therace Risch as executive vice president and chief information officer, effective immediately. Risch joins the retailer from COUNTRY Financial, and succeeds Scott Laverty.
Report: Target developing mobile wallet

A week after Walmart announced it would launch a mobile payment solution, one of its chief rivals is reported to be working on the same.

Target Corp. is in the early stages of developing its own mobile wallet, according to Reuters, but it has not yet committed to launching the product.
Pinterest promotes social commerce value

Pinterest is adding a new feature to its Buyable Pins in-app purchase mechanism aimed at price-conscious shoppers.
Analysis: Retailers disrupt mobile payment space

Unconfirmed media reports indicate Target is in the early stages of developing its own mobile payment solution.
Winning with retail real estate in 2016

Occupancy costs are among the largest expenses for any retailer. Total lease obligations can exceed long term debt in many companies, reducing profitability and hindering growth. It doesn’t have to be that way though if operators follow four simple rules of retail real estate.
And the top CEOs are….

Executives from retail and restaurant chains grabbed some of the top spots in an annual ranking of the nation’s top CEOs.

Rite Aid chairman and CEO John Standley was rated the number one executive on ExecRank’s 2015 Top Mid Cap CEOs list. Taking the number two spot: Sally J. Smith, CEO and president of Buffalo Wild Wings. Gary Friedman, chairman and CEO of Restoration Hardware Holdings, took the third spot.
IDC: ‘Mobile first’ looks like a smart strategy

Retailers who are focusing on mobile as a means of digitally engaging customers have some solid data backing up their approach.
Consumer clash: Don’t call me 'old,' don’t call me 'young'

Move over millennials, there are two demographics ready to shake up the consumer landscape and impact retail sales.