Data & Analytics

Feature: Hoven stays engaging with Holonis
San Diego – Engaging consumers online seems like it should be easy – after all, virtually every consumer is actively online and using multiple social media platforms at this point. However, this also means that all of your competitors are also trying to engage the public across multiple online and social channels, resulting in a huge morass of digital noise. To stand out, retailers need to ensure their digital engagement strategy is consistent, timely and personalized.
Survey: Customer satisfaction down, technology key to improvement
Ann Arbor, Mich. - Despite economic indicators that show the recession is over, customers are slightly less satisfied in 2015 than they were the prior year. According to CFI Group's Retail Satisfaction Barometer 2015, the RSB score for 2015 is 79 on a 0-100 scale (with 100 being the highest possible score), a one-point drop from 2014.

Tim Horton’s releases 2014 sustainability results

Oakville, Canada - Tim Hortons has released its fifth annual Sustainability and Responsibility Report, highlighting the company's 2014 performance results. Key accomplishments in 2014 include:

• Introduced Calorie Aware menu boards across Canada to highlight breakfast products under 350 calories.

• Increased the number of farmers who participated in the Tim Hortons Coffee Partnership Projects to a total of 4,830 farmers.
Rachel Comey complies with EMV, Apple Pay

New York – Omnichannel specialty fashion retailer Rachel Comey is now accepting payment via EMV-compliant, chip-based payment cards, as well as Apple Pay, in its New York store. Rachel Comey is using EMV- and Apple Pay-enabled, cloud-based mobile POS devices from Highline Software.
Tech Bytes: Three Thoughts on the Disruptive Potential of Apple Watch

Now that the smoke has cleared from the initial release of the Apple Watch, retailers can take a more objective look at how this latest innovation in wearable technology might disrupt customer engagement and the overall customer experience. Here are three thoughts on how Apple Watch could shift the retail landscape.

Small Screen, Big Challenge/Opportunity
Survey: 20% of Millennials prefer not to interact with cashiers during checkout

Chicago -- Self-service kiosks got a nod from the Millennial generation, as a new survey released by location-based mobile platform Retale showed that 20% of Millennial shoppers don’t like interacting with cashiers at checkout.

The survey examined consumer self-service checkout (SSK) adoption and preferences among brick-and-mortar retailers, focusing on SSK experiences, and evaluating convenience, challenges and desired improvements.

Research highlights include:
J.C. Penney taps consumer marketing exec as CMO

Plano, Texas -- J.C. Penney Company has named consumer marketing executive and board member Mary Beth West as executive VP and chief customer and marketing officer, effective June 1. She replaces Debra Berman, who resigned as CMO after less than two years with the retailer. West will be stepping down from the board to assume the new role.
Smart & Final to open 16 new stores

Smart & Final Stores Inc. credited strong merchandising and marketing initiatives with the retailer's impressive jump in same store sales for the first quarter.
Scandal hammers Lumber Liquidators in Q1

Lumber Liquidators reported a first-quarter loss of $7.8 million and announced that its CFO is resigning as allegations over the quality of its flooring continues to affect the company.
In the quarter, the company swung to a loss of $7.8 million, or 29 cents per share, compared to net income of $13.7 million, or 49 cents per share, a year ago. Revenue of $260 million in the period met analysts’ forecasts.
Best Buy targets senior smartphone market with GreatCall

Best Buy is looking to expand its smartphone offerings for America's growing population of aging adults with a San Diego-based company called GreatCall.
Study: Smart mirrors to become $7 billion market by 2022

Glen Allen, Va. – Imagine being not only smart, but a billionaire as well. Smart mirrors are in this enviable position, according to a new study from industry analyst firm N-Tech Research.
Amazon gets down to business with new marketplace

Seattle – Amazon.com is launching yet another new marketplace. Amazon Business provides access to hundreds of millions of products, as well as business-only selection and pricing.

Amazon Business customers will also receive free two-day shipping on tens of millions of eligible items, multi-user business accounts, custom spending approval workflows, integration with third-party procurement solutions, automated tracking of tax exemptions, dedicated customer support, order tracking, and corporate credit options.