Data & Analytics

Retailers understand that loyal customers are the most profitable shoppers. While these consumers make buying decisions that are increasingly influenced by online channels, the vast majority of retail business in the United States is conducted in the physical store, and this isn’t changing with the Millennial generation.

PGA Tour Superstore continues to broaden its footprint with its first store in Utah.

The retailer announced it will open a 25,000-sq.-ft. store in Sandy, Utah, in April. The Sandy store, which will feature four state-of-the-art simulators, four practice hitting bays and an expansive putting green measuring more than 750 sq. ft., is the first of five new store locations the company has announced for 2016.

Consumer interest in wearables is booming for reasons that retailers should find encouraging.

New research from Mintel reveals that the U.S. wearable technology market is experiencing unprecedented growth, with estimated sales increasing 186% from 2014-2015, reaching $7 billion in 2015.

And despite just one in 10 consumers owning a fitness tracker (12%) or smartwatch (7%), 16% of consumers said they planned to purchase a fitness tracker or smartwatch in the final three months of 2015.

Consumer interest in wearables is booming for reasons that retailers should find encouraging.
 
New research from Mintel reveals that the U.S. wearable technology market is experiencing unprecedented growth, with estimated sales increasing 186% from 2014-2015, reaching $7 billion in 2015.
 
And despite just one in 10 consumers owning a fitness tracker (12%) or smartwatch (7%), 16% of consumers said they planned to purchase a fitness tracker or smartwatch in the final three months of 2015.
 

Some major retailers sharply reduced their use of printed free standing inserts (FSIs) last year but the total dollar value of FSIs still grew to a record $515 billion.

The value of free standing insert (FSI) coupons increased 3.7% in 2015 to $515 billion, according to Kantar Media. However, the number of FSI pages distributed fell 8.1% as marketers cut back on pages that didn’t include a coupon. The number of coupons circulated increased nominally versus the prior year, and combined with higher face value led to growth in dollars circulated.

NYX Professional Makeup continues its brick-and-mortar expansion, opening a flagship at Westfield Valley Fair mall in Santa Clara, California.

The store is the first of several NYX locations set to open throughout the year. Upcoming locations include Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek, California, and Willowbrook Mall, Wayne, New Jersey.

It looks like Trader Joe’s in Westfield, New Jersey, has taken its final curtain call — at least for a while.

The supermarket, which is located in the upscale town’s thriving downtown area, fell victim to the blizzard that walloped New Jersey on Saturday, as part of the roof collapsed, which caused the exterior walls to buckle into the middle of the building.

Retailers have one less form factor to consider in their wearable connected device strategies. According to Gizmodo, Google is officially ending all support for its Google Glass connected eyewear device in the consumer market. This ends plans to relaunch Google Glass among consumers in partnership with Luxottica Group that were announced in April 2015, although Google is still promoting Google Glass as a workplace tool. [Gizmodo]