Data & Analytics

Tumi stores “pop” with LEDs from Solais
New York -- High-end luggage and accessories Tumi has selected LED lamps from Solais Lighting, a division of PowerSecure International, has its lighting product of record. Tumi has specified Solais’ Xi20 and Xi24 PAR LEDs featuring the company’s VioLight color-enhancing technology.

Tumi recently installed the LEDs in its store in New York City’s Rockefeller Center.
This retailer wants in on omnichannel action
If ever a retailer’s product assortment cried out for an omnichannel approach it would be the fast-growing Batteries Plus Bulbs chain where customers are drawn by an offering of 50,000 unique items.

The chain of 650 stores, with 50 more units in the works this year, recently introduced a new Web site with the goal of tightly integrating its digital and expanding physical presence.

Report: Apple opening 8th store in New York City

Apple's newest store in New York City is located in one of its most diverse burroughs and store employees will be fluent in a dozen languages.

According to the New York Daily News, Apple is opening the store on July 11 in the Queens Center mall located in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Queens.

"We are really excited to bring our eighth store in NYC to Queens," Jason Barlia, market director at Apple Retail, told the Daily News. "When we saw this location it made a lot of sense."
Back to school spending under way

Although summer vacations have just begun for many schoolchildren, parents already have back-to-school shopping on their minds.
Office Depot gears up for autumn

Office Depot is gearing up for a successful back to school season with a new lineup of essentials for students of all ages.
Express makes change in finance team

Express Inc. has named a new CFO, and the retailer did not look far to fill the role.
Tango is new dance craze for supply chain execs

In pursuit of the holy grail of maximizing supply chain efficiency, solutions provider Orchestro is taking on the $252 billion challenge with the latest version of its Tango product platform.

Orchestro is a leading demand analytics and data management company and Tango is the name of the collection of software solutions consumer packaged goods companies use to solve some of their biggest supply chain challenges. Technically speaking, Tango is what supply chain executives and IT types call a SaaS-based demand signal management platform.
BJ's Wholesale Club focuses on member loyalty

BJ's Wholesale Club is forming a new partnership with Toshiba as the retailer accelerates its efforts to drive member loyalty and sales.

BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc. says it has selected Toshiba TCxCare to manage and be the single point of contact for “wall to wall” maintenance services at its 200 stores.
Is the Container Store back on track?

The Container Store may have cleared the low bar it set for itself in the first quarter, but reporting a loss and another quarter of negative same store sales can’t feel good.
Watch out Amazon…Home Depot narrowing price gap

Ottawa, Canada – Home Depot is narrowing its price gap with Amazon.com, which typically offers the lowest overall prices on home improvement goods.

According to a recent study from pricing analytics provider 360pi, “Building Up to Home Improvement Season,” Home Depot was the most aggressively priced home improvement “category killer,” with an average price of just more than 5% above Amazon, narrowing down to around 3% above Amazon by the end of the sampled period (May 1 – June 16, 2015).
Rite Aid in new risk management appointment

Camp Hill, Pa. -- Rite Aid Corporation is beefing up its risk management.

The drugstore chain announced that Paul Zikmund, a risk management professional with nearly 30 years of experience, is joining Rite Aid as group VP of risk and controls.

In this new position, Zikmund will oversee the risk management program for Rite Aid as well as its subsidiaries, RediClinic, Health Dialog and EnvisionRx. Zikmund will report to Tony Bellezza, Rite Aid senior VP and chief compliance officer.
Acquisition creates discount giant

Chesapeake, Va. -- It’s a done deal.

Dollar Tree announced Monday that it has completed its $8.5 billion acquisition of Family Dollar Stores.

Gary Philbin, 58, formerly president and COO of Dollar Tree, has been named to the same position at Family Dollar, effective immediately. In his new role, Philbin will continue to report to Bob Sasser, CEO of Dollar Tree.