Data & Analytics

Stratacache has acquired majority control of Scala Inc.  

Stein Mart has launched a new website that gives shoppers a more personalized shopping experience.   Developed in partnership with Kibo, a cloud-based unified omnichannel commerce platform, the updated site is powered by the Kibo e-commerce platform. As part of Stein Mart’s overall omnichannel strategy, the feature-rich and responsive designed site gives the retailer the same experience across all of its retail touch-points.  

The chief executive of Hasbro Inc. has joined the board of directors of Gap Inc., effective Aug. 12.   The retailer said it is adding Brian D. Goldner to its board as the merchant focuses on its “next era of retail.” His appointment comes shortly after Gap posted a disappointing sales for the second quarter.   

A start-up consumer electronics retailer has deployed a friendly-looking, white plastic robot named Pepper to greet shoppers.   In a two-week test, high-tech retailer B8ta is the first retail store in the United States to deploy the humanoid robot, which is from Japan’s SoftBank Robotics, Mercurynews.com reported.   

Nordstrom Inc. is enhancing the rewards it offers customers via its loyalty program.    The retailer partnered with Aimia Inc., a data-driven marketing and loyalty analytics company, to expand the Nordstrom Rewards loyalty program.   The expanded program launched in Nordstrom stores in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, and on Nordstrom.com in May 2016. In the first three months, Nordstrom has enrolled approximately 1.7 million new members.  

Consumers cooled their spending in July.    Retail sales were flat in July, in line with a revised 0.8% gain in June, according to figures released Friday by the Commerce Department. The report ended three straight months of monthly gains.     Sales in July rose 2.3% from a year ago. Excluding automobiles and parts sales, sales fell 0.3% in July — the weakest reading since January, after a 0.9% gain in the prior month.     

Gander Mountain announced that Ron Stoupa will join the company as senior VP - marketing & e-commerce starting on Monday, Aug. 15.      Stoupa will lead all marketing and e-commerce functions, including brand development, customer engagement and omnichannel initiatives for Gander Mountain.   

Back-to-school promotions seems to start earlier and earlier each year. But most consumers aren’t buying the pitch.      That’s one of the findings of a new report by A.T. Kearney in which the majority of consumers surveyed said they planned to do most of their BTS shopping in August and September. (Only 4% of shoppers did any of their shopping as early as July 4.) And in another nod to the "old school" shopper, the study suggests that brick-and-mortar will still make or break back-to-school sales.