Data & Analytics

Recent rate increases for shipping services by UPS and FedEx and the pending Jan. 17 rate increase for U.S. Postal Service (USPS) shipping services, are challenging businesses -- especially small retailers and e-retailers -- to look for new and innovative solutions to optimize their shipping operations, according to Pitney Bowes.

Here is an update from Pitney Bowes on the latest increase by each major carrier:

UPS
• On December 28, 2015, the rates for UPS Ground services increased an average net 4.9%.

Supervalu wants to unlock the value of its Save-A-Lot division with a planned spinoff, but the 1,336 store division did little to enhance its appeal to investors with a weak showing in the third quarter.

Outdoor retailer Timberland will use mobile technology to deliver a personalized, omnichannel environment in its flagship in New York’s Herald Square.

Publix Super Markets is getting a new CEO after Ed Crenshaw announced his retirement on Wednesday.

The company announced that Crenshaw will step down effective April 30. Upon Crenshaw’s retirement, current company President Todd Jones will become president and CEO. 

Dick’s Sporting Goods is applying advanced analytics to better understand what products it should sell, and at what cost.

Dick’s is partnering with predictive analytics solutions provider First Insight, to help make faster and more accurate decisions in the areas of product design, merchandise buying and pricing decisions on thousands of goods and designs.

QVC chief information officer Linda Dillman has joined the board of the GS1 US supply chain information standard organization.

GS1 US is a supply chain information standards organization.

Dillman will help guide the GS1 US strategy for driving the adoption and usage of the GS1 System of Standards in e-commerce. The standards uniquely identify products, services and locations globally. They are designed to assist in enhancing the consumer shopping experience while boosting online retailer efficiency, revenue and loyalty.

There is a growing disconnect between shoppers’ growing in-store service expectations and retailers’ current service offerings and focus for the coming year.

Shoptalk is out to break the mold of what constitutes a retail industry event and the clearest indication of that philosophy is a digital brochure that showcases an expanding roster of speakers and the image of a monkey sitting on a toilet. Seriously.