Data & Analytics

Facebook wants to reinvent how consumers talk to retailers
New York -- Facebook hopes to transform the way customers communicate with retailers by re-inventing the customer service platform. Facebook and its partner Zendesk, a customer service platform firm, are teaming up to allow businesses to provide scalable and responsive customer service to the more than 600 million people worldwide who use Facebook's popular Messenger app. The social media giant is inviting retailers and other companies to develop software that allows customers to communicate instantly with them through Messenger.
Risk-Averse Strip Mall Landlords Seek 'Internet-Proof' Renters in Smaller Spaces
By Neil Axler

“You can’t get your nails done online, you can’t get dry cleaning done online and you can’t eat the Internet.” These are the dominant themes from retail clients (property owners) over the last few years. Today’s shopping center acquirers are looking for “necessity centers” with a stable rent roll. These centers consist of restaurants, nail salons and other destination retail that is not competing with e-commerce.

Retail Not Reaping Full Benefit of Consumers’ Savings at the Pump

By Stephen Metivier, TD Bank
Destination XL Group swings to Q4 profit

Canton, Mass. -- Destination XL Group Inc. grew sales and margin and swung to a profit in its fourth-quarter, reporting net income of $1.6 million, after a $55.1 million loss in the same period a year earlier. It also announced plans to open 40 DXL stores in 2015.

The retailer of men’s big and tall apparel reported revenue of $119.6 million in the period. Sales per square foot in DXL stores rose 10% to $165. Total same-store sales increased 8.9%.
Ikea installing fuel cell system that convert biogas into electricity

Conshohocken, Pa. -- Ikea announced plans to install a fuel cell system at its location in Emeryville, California. Consistent with the retailer’s focus on emerging energy technologies, is the first Ikea in the world to convert biogas into electricity through a clean electro-chemical process. The fuel cell system will be installed, commissioned and activated by this summer, 2015.

Ikea contracted Bloom Energy, Sunnyvale, California, for the design, development and installation of the fuel system.
Weis Markets expands in-store pickup service

Sunbury, Pa. — Weis Markets is set to expand online shopping with in-store pick-up to its 26th location, making the service available at its West Lawn, Pennsylvania, store.
NCR to help modernize Defense Commissary Agency’s systems

Duluth, Ga. -- NCR Corp. announced that NCR Government Systems will modernize operations for the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA). DeCA’s Enterprise Business Solution (EBS), built upon NCR’s software solutions, will help to transform DeCA’s mission-critical retail systems and provide industry-leading capabilities that optimize its operations from warehouse replenishment through to the point-of-sale, along with customer loyalty management and payment solutions.
Accenture: Retailers struggle to meet consumers’ in-store, mobile needs

New York -- U.S. retailers are struggling to meet the demands of consumers, according to a report by Accenture. An overwhelming majority (82%) of consumers expect a retailer’s prices to be the same in-store and online, up 13% over last year’s study, but only 34% of retailers met this expectation for more than 80% of the items assessed, Accenture found.
Sam's Club wins payment innovation award

Sam’s Club’s newest credit card program has been recognized as an innovator in the fast-changing world of payment technology.

Sam’s Club’s 5-3-1 card earned a Gold Medal in the Best Comeback Story category in the PYMNTS.com 2015 Innovator Awards.
Weis Markets opens store pickup in 26th store
Study: Retailers missing the omnichannel mark

Retailers must move quickly to improve their ability to deliver a “seamless retail” experience to customers, according to new research by Accenture released Wednesday.
Christopher & Banks sails through challenging Q4

Christopher & Banks Corp.