Data & Analytics

It’s money that matters for back-to-school shoppers
Framingham, Mass. – There are a lot of things parents look for when doing back-to-school shopping, but as Randy Newman once sang, it’s money that matters.

A new online survey of parents of children ages 8-18, commissioned by Staples and conducted by Harris Poll, finds that price is the top consideration for 86% of these parents when buying school supplies.

Highlights of Staples 2015’ Back-to-School Parents Survey include:
Small supermarkets manage big workforce issues in the cloud
Paragould, Ark. – Even smaller retailer still have to handle big issues relating to effectively managing workforce management processes. That’s why small-to-mid-sized supermarket chains such as Paragould, Arkansas-based Hays Supermarkets and Brockton, Massachusetts-based Vicente’s Tropical Grocery are relying on the cloud-based Kronos Workforce Ready Suite.

Retail ‘Wrap’

If you’ve been reading this column over the last four years, let me first say, “thank you!” It’s gratifying to think that my musings about retail and retail real estate have kept your attention and interest. In this, my 100th and final (except for an occasional contribution) Retail Rap, I wanted to tackle the big question: What’s next? Where is the retail industry — particularly brick-and-mortar — headed in the months and years ahead?
Jockey mixes money with technology in C-suite

Kenosha, Wis. – Some things are traditionally assumed not to mix – oil and water, cats and dogs, finance and IT. While the CFO has been taking a more active role in high-level IT decision-making in recent years, vertical apparel retailer Jockey International Inc. mixes money with technology more than most of its competitors.

The Wall Street Journal reports that privately held Jockey recently hired Dain Bussewitz, former VP of finance at Abercrombie & Fitch, to assume the combined role of CIO and CFO.
Born to run? Visit this store in India

Bengalaru, India – Bruce Springsteen fans will be delighted by the new store Nike Inc. is opening in Bengalaru, India. Aimed at customers who are “born to run,” the 7,355-sq.-ft., three-level store, Nike’s largest in India, places a special emphasis on the sport of running.
Millennial moms drawn by beacons

Los Angeles – It may be hard to believe, but many members of the ballyhooed millennial generation (defined by the U.S. Census as born between 1982 and 2000) are now moms. To reach millennial moms, new data released by beacon proximity platform inMarket suggests retailers should use beacon and proximity-based engagement platforms.
Express promotes finance VP to CFO

Columbus, Ohio – Express Inc. is naming a new CFO, and not looking far to fill the role.

Perry Pericleous, previously VP, finance, has been promoted to senior VP, CFO and treasurer, reporting to Matthew Moellering, executive VP and COO.

Pericleous succeeds Paul Dascoli, who has left the company, effective July 7. Pericleous, 42, is a 15-year veteran of Express and most recently served as VP, finance with responsibility for all financial planning and analysis functions.
Batteries Plus Bulbs sees the omnichannel light

Hartland, Wis. – Battery, lightbulb and smartphone/tablet repair franchise Batteries Plus Bulbs is expanding its omnichannel experience — and that includes its physical store portfolio.

The company has launched a new e-commerce site, with a new and improved infrastructure, that ties its online presence more tightly to its nationwide network of more than 650 stores. And as part of its omnichannel growth strategy, Batteries Plus Bulbs plans to open 50 new locations across the country in 2015.
Advance Auto Parts shifts into high financial gear

Roanoke, Va. – Advance Auto Parts Inc. is shifting into high gear when it comes to finance. The retailer has been selected to join the prestigious Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500 stock index at the close of business July 8, replacing Family Dollar Stores Inc.
Don’t tell the kids: Mom and Dad are getting ready for school

Los Angeles - Although summer vacations have just begun for many schoolchildren, parents already have back-to-school shopping on their minds.

According to the new Consumer Pulse survey of parents with kids in grades K-12 and college from Rubicon Project, 56% of respondents said they plan to spend more money per child than they did last year to prepare the students for the upcoming school year.
BJ’s keeps up the store with Toshiba TCxCare maintenance service

Westborough, Mass. – Keeping up the store is never an easy prospect, especially when you operate hundreds of stores with POS applications and peripherals from multiple vendors. To ensure store upkeep, at least from a hardware perspective, BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc. has selected Toshiba TCxCare to manage and be the single point of contact for “wall to wall” maintenance services at its 200 stores.
7-Eleven makes sure customers have cash on hand

Dallas – Convenience store purchases are often small, inexpensive items most consumers would prefer to pay cash for. 7-Eleven Inc. is making sure customers always have access to cash through an agreement with Financial Consulting & Trading International Inc. (FCTI) to become its new ATM provider.

FCTI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Seven Bank an ATM provider for all 7-Eleven stores in Japan. 7-Eleven's U.S. company-operated and franchised stores are expected to transition to FCTI's ATM program in 2017.