Data & Analytics

Rawlings Sporting Goods Company Inc. is taking its store operations game up a notch. The St. Louis-based vertical sporting goods retailer will use the RetailNext store analytics platform to optimize its brick-and-mortar shopping experience at all five company-owned factory outlet stores.

The comprehensive RetailNext platform will be deployed at all Rawlings-owned factory outlets in an attempt to uncover deep customer behavioral insights that can be used to create a better in-store experience.

Starbucks Corp. is looking to someone with detailed knowledge of developing technology solutions as its new chief technology officer.

The coffee giant has named Gerri Martin-Flickinger, who previously served as senior VP and CIO of Adobe, as CTO effective Nov. 2.

In her new role, Martin-Flickinger will lead the global IT function and play a key role in shaping the technology agenda across the Starbucks business. Interestingly, in her previous life she played a key role in enabling Adobe’s transformation to a cloud-based business.

There will be a change at the top of lifestyle apparel retailer Tommy Bahama.

The company announced that Terry R. Pillow will retire as CEO of Tommy Bahama Group on January 30, 2016, the end of the company's fiscal year. He will be succeeded by Douglas B. Wood, Tommy Bahama's current president and COO.

Troubled retailer Lumber Liquidators is reaching out to customers in a new and unusual way.

The company, which has experienced significant financial difficulty since 60 Minutes ran a report in March alleging dangerously high levels of formaldehyde in Chinese hardwood products it sells, is launching an online “Before and After” gallery.

The National Retail Federation has formed a Digital Council to focus on the e-commerce, mobile and innovative initiatives that exist within the retail industry today.

The members-only council, powered by NRF’s Shop.org digital division, will support and promote collaboration in efforts like the exchange of information on digital retail trends and strategies, the development of original research, and educational events and advocacy opportunities in Washington, D.C.

For the third consecutive year, Apple and Google came out on top in a ranking of the 100 most valuable brands in the world.

Valued at a whopping $170.3 billion in Interbrand’s 16th annual Best Global Brands report, Apple increased its brand value by 43% over last year. Google, valued at $120.3 billion, increased its value by 12%. (The top 10 brands are listed at the end of this article.)

Walmart is planning to hold what will it says will be “America's Biggest Health Fair” across 4,400 locations on the afternoon of Oct. 10.

Given Walmart's expansive reach and the number of complementary health screenings being provided, the company expects to uncover as many as 3,000 cases of diabetes over the course of the day and 7,000 incidences of high blood pressure.

The CEO of The Container Store says the company is still on track to maximize profitability despite a disappointing second quarter that produced little sales and revenue growth.

The Texas-based chain reported that for the second quarter ended Aug. 29, revenue edged up 1.2% to $195.5 million. Net income fell by more than 60% to $2.67 million, with earnings of $0.06 per share, a penny less than the consensus forecast and down by more than half from last year's $0.14 per share showing.

Nearly a year after a massive data breach, the Home Depot is looking to a cybersecurity veteran to add expertise to its board directors.

The world's largest home improvement retailer said it has appointed Linda R. Gooden to the company's board of directors. Gooden will serve on the company's audit and leadership development and compensation committees. Her appointment gives the company 12 directors, 11 of whom are independent.

Although the Amazon Fire smartphone fizzled, its legacy lives on.