Data & Analytics

Secaucus, N.J. – Specialty apparel retailer The Children’s Place Inc. saw its net loss grow and net sales drop in a difficult second quarter of fiscal 2015.

Net loss increased to $13.7 million, from $10.7 million in the same quarter a year earlier.

Higher selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses, as well as several non-recurring items including legal fees, impairment charges and restructuring costs, helped push The Children’s Place further into the red.

Columbus, Ohio – DSW Inc. met Wall Street expectations for profit but did not grow revenues as much as projected during a mixed second quarter of fiscal 2015.

Costs and expenses increased at a slower rate than sales, allowing net income to improve 9% to $37.61 million, from $34.33 million in the prior year period. Net sales increased 7% to $627.2 million, from $587.1 million. Same-store sales rose 1.8%.

Mike MacDonald, president and CEO, also attributed rising profits to merchandise selling strategy.

An altered retail landscape and new consumer are remaking the shopper journey and path-to-purchase. Here are 10 tactics to improve the shopper experience that every retailer needs to know:

1. Bridge the online to offline experience: Expectations are high; online shoppers seek a personalized and efficient experience. Customers now expect price consistency across channels, the ability to buy online and pick up or return in store and a range of payment options.

Recent turmoil in the stock market hasn’t dimmed Best Buy’s outlook for the third quarter while the release of better than expected second quarter results has validated the company’s strategy, according to CEO Hubert Joly.

Strength in categories such as major appliances, large screen televisions and mobile phones, offset by weak tablet sales, helped Best Buy achieve a 2.7% domestic same store sales increase and pushed revenues up 3.9% to $7.9 billion during the second quarter ended August 1. Online comparable sales increased 17%.

DSW says its investments in becoming a more “customer-centric” company are paying off, as the retailer reported sales and earnings growth in the second quarter.

Target Corp. has agreed to pay $2.8 million to resolve a hiring discrimination claim filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Traffic problems and increased discounts led specialty apparel retailer The Children’s Place Inc.

Sherwin-Williams is launching a new omnichannel tool designed to radically simplify how customers pick a paint color.

ColorSnap is a comprehensive system with an in-store display that helps customers select colors -- in 60% less time than with the previous display, according to in-store testing conducted by Sherwin-Williams. ColorSnap will also be available for iPhone, iPad, Android and online, allowing customers to scan each take-home color chip for instant access to inspirational room scenes.

Not only is Amazon.com launching its one-hour Prime Now delivery service in its hometown of Seattle, but it's also adding a whole new category of deliverable products.

The retailer announced Tuesday it will add wine, beer and spirits to its assortment of eligible products for Prime Now delivery.

Seattle becomes the first U.S. city to include alcohol in the assortment of products eligible for the quick-delivery service.

What could a 169-year old federal institution responsible for millions of the country’s most important artifacts, history and information possibly teach the retail industry? Plenty it seems.