Data & Analytics

With Amazon’s customer retention rate hovering north of 90%, customer loyalty initiatives are understandably at the top of every retail CMO’s to-do list. Of course, it’s harder these days to find room in consumers’ wallets for another membership card, what with American households belonging to an average of 22 loyalty programs, according to the loyalty research unit Colloquy. But Colloquy also found that each household’s activity was concentrated on fewer than half that number of programs.

Ebates has enlisted Epsilon, an Alliance Data (ADS) company, to help the leading online cash back shopping platform enhance its global email marketing services.

Per the multiyear agreement, Epsilon will provide robust, targeted email marketing services focused on driving sales and creating a more personalized experience for customers across Ebates' suite of websites and rewards programs including Ebates.com, Ebates.ca, Ebates Korea, FatWallet.com and Pushpins.

Severe weather that persisted during the year’s shortest month affected Gap’s February sales results. 

The company reported net sales for the four-week period ended March 1 of $929 million, compared with net sales of $966 million for the four-week period ended March 2, 2013. Comparable-store sales for the month declained 7%, versus last year’s 3% increase.

“While February was clearly a difficult month, we remain focused on executing our global priorities,” said chairman and CEO Glenn Murphy.

Boston – Wayfair has raised $157 million in equity financing to fuel continued growth of the company's portfolio of home brands. The Series B investment round, led by funds and accounts managed by T. Rowe Price Associates Inc., encompassed a limited number of key investors, including growth-focused mutual funds, as well as a private investment from Julie M.B. Bradley, TripAdvisor CFO and Wayfair board member.

Big Lots has elevated CFO Timothy A. Johnson’s to EVP, CFO. Johnson has served as financial chief since 2012 with primary responsibility for all financial disciplines within the company including financial reporting and controls, treasury, risk management, tax, internal audit, financial planning and analysis and investor relations.

San Diego – During February 2014, net sales at PriceSmart Inc. increased 11% to $182.8 million from $164.7 million in February a year earlier. For the five weeks ended March 2, 2014, same-store sales for the 30 warehouse clubs open at least 13 1/2 full months increased 5.3% compared to the same five-week period the previous year.

There were 32 warehouse clubs in operation at the end of February 2014, compared to 30 warehouse clubs in operation in February 2013.

San Francisco – Gap Inc. had a disappointing February 2014 as net sales and same-store sales declined, compared to the same month in the prior year. Net sales fell 4% to $929 million from $966 million, while same-store sales dropped 7%.

Matthews, N.C. -- Family Dollar Stores Inc. has joined EPA’s Energy Star program as an Energy Star partner. Through its voluntary partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Program, Family Dollar will work to improve energy efficiency and sustainability and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through a strategic, corporate energy management program that will help preserve the environment for future generations.