Data & Analytics

Target to pay nearly $40M to banks over data breach
Target Corp. has tentatively reached another milestone in its continuing efforts to remediate financial losses caused by its massive 2013 data breach.

According to multiple media reports, Target has reached a settlement with MasterCard Inc. and a number of issuing banks. In papers filed in federal court in Minneapolis, Target said it would reimburse a total of $39 million in the settlement. That figure would include about $20 million for issuing banks not covered in other class action suits against Target and about $19 million to the MasterCard Account Data Compromise program.
ShopperTrak: In-store sales decline need to be viewed in context
In-store sales declines over Black Friday weekend had many analysts buzzing about the future of brick and mortar. But an expert in store traffic cautioned that the declines should be taken with a grain of salt.

“It’s important to view the decrease in context,” said Bill Martin, founder, ShopperTrak.

Martin noted that where are several contributing factors, including fewer available store hours on Thanksgiving Day and a later Hanukah that is anticipated to push sales into December.

Report: What retailer dominated social media on Cyber Monday?

One retailer was clearly in a league of its own when it came to social media dominance of Cyber Monday.
Study: Revenue from mobile devices jumps nearly 10% year-over-year

Shoppers are purchasing more on mobile than ever before — and they are also making larger purchases.

That’s according to a new report from Yesmail, the email service provider within Yes Lifecycle Marketing, which found that overall revenue coming from mobile devices is up 9.9% year-over-year, according to Yesmail.
Munchies on demand with 7-Eleven’s new college delivery service

7-Eleven is teaming up with a San Francisco start-up to launch an on-demand delivery service at select colleges.

The convenience store giant has partnered with Tapingo, a mobile commerce application for college campuses, to launch on-demand delivery of 7-Eleven products in the college market.
Tractor Supply slashes energy costs 40% at new DC

Tractor Supply Company is seeing green at its new distribution center.

The company’s new DC ,in Casa Grande, Arizona, has achieved LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. It is the second LEED Silver certification awarded to a Tractor Supply Company facility within the last year.
Weis Markets seeks to boost marketing, supply chain efficiency

InnerWorkings on Tuesday entered an exclusive partnership to enhance the marketing supply chain of Weis Markets.
Walmart: Mobile is 'dominant shopping trend'
Cyber Monday spending hits all-time high

Cyber Monday 2015 will be a day for the retail record books, at least until next holiday season.
Guitar Center plays new labor management tune

For a highly specialized retailer like specialty music chain Guitar Center, keeping track of store labor can pose extra challenges.

“Our customers want knowledgeable associates for specific instruments,” explained Alex Khamudis, manager of store labor for Westlake Village, California-based Guitar Center. “How do you figure out when to schedule experts, and how many, across four separate departments like guitar and drums?”
eBay Enterprise gets in touch with customers

Online retail platform eBay Enterprise is entering a new partnership to help its retail users directly serve the needs of customers.

eBay Enterprise is teaming up with OpenSpan Inc., a provider of contact center automation and intelligence technology, to provide solutions designed to automate, simplify and integrate applications to improve the way contact center agents work.
Kohl’s has a heck of a week

With all the attention focused on generally strong online holiday sales during “Cyber Week” (Nov. 23-29), it may be instructive to look at the experience of one major retailer.

Kohl’s has released an infographic summarizing what so far is a successful digital holiday shopping season. Among the facts and figures Kohl’s has released about the performance of Kohls.com during Cyber Week: