Data & Analytics

New York – Gowex is launching a new “social WiFi” network called We2 in New York City on Dec. 15. We2 will work by harnessing the global presence of Wi-Fi by turning “private” hotspots, such as those found in shops and restaurants, into public hotspots, which can be accessed for free by users registered on the We2 network.

Beloit, Wis. – FatWallet.com is launching its 2013 annual Black Friday Deal Finder online tool and mobile app. The Deal Finder is already featuring multiple Thanksgiving and Black Friday ads from top stores, including Macy's, Radio Shack, Lowe's and Target.

New and improved features to this year's Black Friday Deal Finder include:

Fort Worth, Texas – RadioShack Corp. has opened a new concept store in Detroit, and another in Philadelphia. All new concept stores in the company's portfolio feature an upgraded shopping experience, which showcases the company's new look, and incorporates interactive areas designed to help shoppers improve their technology profile.

Retail sales fell in September for the first time in six months, but the decline was credited to a drop-off in auto purchases. Most U.S. retail sectors actually experienced broad sales gains during the month, according to the National Retail Federation, which reported that, excluding automobiles, gas stations and restaurants, retail sales grew a seasonally 0.6% compared to the previous month and 3.8% unadjusted compared to the prior year.

Results of specific sectors include:

Washington, D.C. – Retail sales fell in September for the first time in six months, but the decline was credited to a drop-off in auto purchases. Most U.S. retail sectors experienced broad sales gains during the month, according to the National Retail, which reported that,  excluding automobiles, gas stations and restaurants, retail sales grew a seasonally 0.6% compared to the previous month and 3.8% unadjusted compared to the prior year.

Results of specific sectors include:

New York -- Nearly 90% of Americans repeatedly buy products retailers have on promotion, according to a new survey by Syngera, a global technology startup that uses big data to bring personalized digital experiences to the physical retail store.  In the survey, 85% of respondents said they would return to brick-and-mortar stores when alerted to upcoming sales of previously purchased items.

Cambridge, Mass. - GPShopper, a mobile solutions company whose offerings include mobile apps and websites for national retailers, has purchased Akamai Aqua Web Experience solutions to accelerate and optimize the delivery of its mobile technology. Built on the Akamai Intelligent Platform, a globally distributed cloud platform, Aqua Web Experience solutions are designed to provide end-users with optimal Web and mobile application experiences.

New York -- Consumers who use mobile devices to research purchases visit retailer sites more frequently than those who use PCs alone. According to research from Millward Brown Digital, mobile visitors engage with top retailers twice as often as PC visitors (on average, 6.2 times per month compared to 2.9 times per month).