Data & Analytics

By Christoph Stehmann, Pitney Bowes

According to the U.S. Commerce Department, retail e-commerce sales totaled over $304 billion in 2014, up 15.4% from the prior year. Also, eMarketer predicts that U.S. retail e-commerce sales will total approximately $350 billion in 2015.

The growth in e-commerce sales represents a huge opportunity for U.S. retailers. However, to be successful, retailers need to make sure they have the right shipping strategies and solutions in place to encourage shoppers to purchase goods online.

San Jose, Calif. – The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau may sue PayPal for practices of its PayPal Credit same-day loan provider unit. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), PayPal said the lawsuit could occur by June 2015.

The bureau has been investigating PayPal Credit, formerly known as Bill Me Later, since 2013. The investigation includes practices in areas such as online credit products, advertising, loan origination, customer acquisition, servicing, debt collection and complaints handling practices.

Modesto, Calif. - Save Mart Supermarkets has chosen NCR and Inmar Digital Promotions Network, a subsidiary of Inmar, to help drive customer loyalty online, mobile and in-store. NCR cloud and marketing retail solutions, combined with Inmar’s targeted digital coupon content and services, will allow Save Mart to manage promotions and loyalty programs while introducing digital coupons that are accessible via multiple sales channels.

Starboard Value, the investment firm driving change at Staples, pushed the retailer to merge with Office Depot and now has achieved another of its goals with the addition of a new board member.

Specialty retailer the Children’s Place has rejected an alternate slate of directors proposed by a firm agitating for change after it acquired roughly 2% of the retailer’s outstanding shares.

When retailers' customers aren’t happy, how do they really know? Many key metrics, such as Net Promoter Score (NPS) and Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT), are born from accumulated survey results and don’t capture true happiness. Surveys focus on whether a customer is satisfied, which is very different from happieness. These are two very different things. So, the question becomes: Are companies really primed to measure customer happiness, or are they settling for a rationalized alternative created by linguistic gymnastics in a survey?

CNBC host and investment advisor Jim Cramer breaks down the impact of cheap oil and the labor outlook with a view toward which retailers are best positioned to win.

A recent feature on the Thestreet.com featured 18 of Cramer’s top picks in the retail world, including many familiar names which have already enjoyed a nice run and are trading at or near their 52 week high.

Lowe's outlined its progress in meeting its sustainability objectives in its 2014 Social Responsibility Report.

New York -- General Electric Company on Friday announced it will sell or spin off the majority of its $500 billion GE Capital finance business over the next two years as it looks to simplify and concentrate on its industrial roots. The company said it will keep its aircraft leasing operation and smaller lending lines.

GE said it has sold its real-estate assets, which include commercial loans and office buildings, for $26.5 billion, with  Wells Fargo & Co. and private equity firm Blackstone Group buying the bulk of it.

San Diego -- Petco announced it has named Michael M. Nuzzo as executive VP and CFO.  Before joining Petco, Nuzzo served as chief administrative officer of the baby gear brand, 4moms. Previously, he served as CFO and executive VP at GNC Holdings, and in various leadership roles at Abercrombie & Fitch.