Data & Analytics

Overstock said that it’s still adjusting to changes Google made to its search engine algorithms, which reduced the online retailer’s ranking in some search results during some periods. As a result, the company has had to emphasize other marketing channels, such as sponsored search.

Although sponsored search has generated revenue growth for the company, Overstock said that the move also incurs higher associated marketing expenses as a percentage of revenue than it had to pay prior to Google making its changes.

Brentwood, Tenn. – Tractor Supply Company reported increased net income and sales for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2013, compared to the same periods a year earlier. Net income grew 18.7% to $328.2 million from $276.5 million for the full fiscal year, and 21% to $95.9 million from $79.5 million for the fourth quarter.

Seattle -- Starbucks Coffee Company has announced a new leadership structure that it says positions the company to leverage its assets and operations, and gain maximum benefit from the retail, consumer, mobile and digital shifts currently underway in the global marketplace.

As part of its digital strategy, Hudson’s Bay Company has created HBC Digital and appointed Michael Burgess as the newly created group’s president. Burgess will report to the office of the chairman.

HBC Digital will drive the digital commerce and marketing strategy and execution across all channels, in partnership with each of the company’s business units: Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor, Hudson’s Bay and HBC Outlets.

Indianapolis – Hhgregg reported net income of $5 million during the third quarter of fiscal 2014, a 71% drop from $17.4 million in the same period the previous fiscal year. Net sales declined about 12%, from $799.6 million to $707 million.

Same-store sales decreased about 11%. Hhgregg cited the drop in same-store sales and shrinking gross margins for its steep decline in net income. Dennis May, president and CEO of Hhgregg, blamed poor electronics/computing sales and heavy promotions for the retailer’s overall disappointing performance.

San Francisco -- The trend of companies adopting recurring revenue surged in 2013, with brand names using new billing and pricing models to grow sales and deepen customer loyalty. Recurring revenue technology provider Aria Systems projects this surge will continue in 2014 as more companies adopt recurring revenue models because of their flexibility and convenience for customers.

Two of Staples' senior most executives were given new responsibilities to bolster the company’s re-invention efforts and competitive posture in a market that has become more challenging with the addition of a newly merged Office Depot and OfficeMax.

Amsterdam, Netherlands -- Mobile payments accounted for 19.5% of all transactions worldwide in December 2013, a growth of 55% year-over-year, up from 12.6% the previous December. The third Adyen Mobile Payments Index, covering the period September to December 2013, also shows that mobile transaction volume in retail has risen by a third, up to 23%.