Data & Analytics

Study: Twitter users are strong holiday shoppers
San Francisco –- Compared to non-users, Twitter users start holiday shopping earlier, spend more and are more prone to impulse purchases. According to a new study conducted by brand research firm DB5 for Twitter, more than a third (34%) of Twitter users have already begun thinking about holiday shopping, and 81% say they love holiday shopping, compared to 56% of non-users.
Analysis: Lackluster Sales Set Stage for Humbug Holiday
By Craig Johnson, Customer Growth Partners With a third straight year of dismal retail spending, American consumers will generate only a lackluster 3.4% year-over-year increase in holiday sales, well below the 5% pace in 2010 and 2011, according to Customer Growth Partners’ 14th Annual Holiday Forecast.

Weis Markets grows Q3 net income

Sunbury, Penn. –- Weis Markets Inc. reported net income of $13.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, a 17% increase from $11.7 million in the same period a year earlier. The elimination of a one-time severance charge and impairment charge from the loss of four properties helped boost net income for the quarter. Net sales increased 3% to $683.9 million from $661.4 million, while its same-store sales increased 2.6%.
Gilt adds Alipay as part of China effort

New York –- Online retailer Gilt has added the Alipay EPass payment option to its checkout, making it easier for consumers in China to shop using its e-commerce platform. The partnership provides a more seamless experience for Chinese Gilt members, allowing them to pay through their existing Alipay accounts directly on the Gilt website.
Nielsen: Holiday spending to increase 1.9%

New York –- Holiday spending among U.S. consumers is expected to rise 1.9% in 2014 compared to the prior year. According to the 2014 Nielsen Holiday Retail Sales Forecast, which surveyed more than 25,000 demographically representative American households in September, 25% of respondents had already started holiday shopping in September.
Report: Black Friday top date for card present fraud

San Mateo, Calif. –- Last year, Black Friday was the top date for “card present” (CP) fraud, where a payment card is presented in a store for unauthorized usage. Data science company Feedzai analyzed data representing $750 billion in payment volume and more than 17.5 billion transactions in both card present (CP) and card not present (unauthorized online card purchases, or CNP) environments.
GNC beats Street with Q3 profit

Pittsburgh –- GNC Holdings Inc. reported a decrease in profit for the third quarter of fiscal 2014 but still beat Wall Street expectations. Net income totaled $64.3 million, down 13% from $73 million the same quarter a year earlier.
Report: Hackers hit mobile payment service CurrentC

New York –- CurrentC, a mobile payment service still in pilot mode from a group of retailers known as the Merchant Consumer Exchange (MCX), has reportedly been hit by hackers. According to CNN, MCX has sent a warning to participants in the CurrentC pilot that criminals obtained access to the email addresses of all consumers who have signed up for the service.
Talbots selects APT analytics software

Hingham, Mass.-- Talbots Inc. will license APT’s software, including its Test & Learn and Market Basket Analyzer platforms, to test and analyze key business initiatives including promotions, merchandising, marketing and store operations. Talbots will use APT’s Test & Learn approach to identify which actions are most successful in improving performance and measure their impact on a test versus control basis.
Study: More consumers use technology in restaurants

Study: Twitter users are strong holiday shoppers

Analysis: Lackluster Sales Set Stage for Humbug Holiday

Weis Markets grows Q3 net income

Gilt adds Alipay as part of China effort

Nielsen: Holiday spending to increase 1.9%

Report: Black Friday top date for card present fraud

GNC beats Street with Q3 profit

Report: Hackers hit mobile payment service CurrentC

Talbots selects APT analytics software

Study: More consumers use technology in restaurants