Data & Analytics

The CEO of Urban Outfitters sounded a positive note about the company's omnichannel strategy despite reporting mixed financial results in the first quarter.

Lower gas prices led to improved traffic and a 1.1% same store sales increase at Walmart’s U.S. stores division, but total company performance suffered under the weight of a $3.3 billion foreign exchange impact and expense pressures which caused profits to decline 7%.

Lackluster traffic at its Golf Galaxy stores led Dick’s Sporting Goods to report a lackluster profit in the first quarter.

As other major retailers report sluggish sales, home improvement stores such as Home Depot Inc. are benefitting from rebounds in the housing market and the weather.

Record Mother's Day sales couldn't lift profit at Stage Stores Inc., which narrowed its loss but reported disappointing same store sales in the first quarter.

Strong traffic continues to boost sales and profit at TJX Cos. Inc., which raised its annual guidance after reporting that earnings rose 4.5% in the first quarter.

The off-price retailer said that net sales for the first quarter ended May 2 increased 6% to $6.9 billion, and same store sales increased 5%. Net income for the first quarter was $475 million, and diluted earnings per share were 69 cents, an 8% increase over the prior year.

With a title like chief retail innovation officer, Kasey Lobaugh spends a lot of time peering into the future to assess where the retail industry is headed.

The principal with Deloitte Consulting did just that May 18 at Manhattan Associates annual Momentum conference where he elaborated on new research showing that digital interactions are expected to influence 64 cents of every dollar spent in retail stores by the end of 2015, or roughly $2.2 trillion.

Digital ad spending in the U.S. will total $58.61 billion this year, and retailers’ ad outlays will comprise 22% of that figure, according to new figures from eMarketer.

Philadelphia – Urban Outfitters Inc. missed Wall Street expectations for net income, sales and same-store sales during the first quarter of fiscal 2015. Net income fell 12% to $32.78 millio,n from $37.48 million the same quarter a year earlier.

Lower margins and higher delivery and fulfillment expense helped drive down net income. Sales reached a record high of $739 million, up 8% from $686.31 million, but still fell short of Wall Street expectations. Same-store sales rose 4%.

London - Accenture is expanding its retail practice with an agreement to acquire Javelin Group, a U.K.-based retail strategy consulting and digital transformation services provider. The acquisition will expand the capabilities of Accenture Strategy to help retailers and consumer brands accelerate their digital transformation.