Data & Analytics

Fresh Market cooks up higher profits -- and an exit plan
The Fresh Market will cede some of its market share to its biggest competitor even as it posted strong fourth quarter earnings and an upbeat outlook for 2015.

The company announced that it would be exiting California by the end of this month and closing all three of its remaining stores there, as it focuses on its stores in the eastern part of the United States. The company also cited slower “organic store growth” as another reason for the decision.
Big Lots to re-launch omnichannel strategy
Big Lots Inc. did what it was supposed to do in the fourth quarter -- and more, as the discount retailer reported a better-than-expected 3% increase in same store sales.

The company also announced a new omnichannel initiative that it expects to put in place by the first quarter of fiscal 2016. Big Lots has dabbled in online selling in the past, but had discontinued those operations after not getting the strategy down quite right. Now the company says it is looking to fully embrace omnichannel retailing in-store and on its website with a new initiative launching this year.

NRF encourages retail pros to "Dream BIG"

Twenty retail industry professionals dreaming of making it big in the retail industry have a unique opportunity thanks to the National Retail Federation.

NRF is collaborating again with University of Phoenix School of Business to award 20 full-tuition scholarships to retail industry professionals who want to enhance their careers through education.
ECRM: Retail circular advertising trends, February 2015

ECRM compared retail circular advertising in February 2014 vs. February 2015 and noted trends occurring across top retail chains.
Sephora in big omnichannel push: beacons, in-store augmented reality and more

San Francisco -- Sephora on Thursday officially unveiled its San Francisco-located Innovation Lab, which will focus on the development of new strategies and technologies for both in-store and mobile shopping. In conjunction with the debut of the Lab, the beauty retailer announced the rollout of four new digital programs:
Tax benefit boosts Q2 profit at Costco

Issaquah, Wash. – A tax benefit in connection with a special cash dividend helped boost net income at Costco Wholesale Corp. a better-than-expected 29% to $598 million from $463 million in the company’s second quarter of fiscal 2013.

Sales increased 4% to $26.9 billion and membership sales grew 5.8% to $582 million, with total revenues increasing 15.8% to $27.5 billion during the quarter ending Feb. 15.
Study: Harsh winter freezes retail sales

San Jose, Calif. – This winter has not only frozen roads and roofs, but also had a chilling effect on retail sales. According to the monthly Retail Performance Pulse from RetailNext, there was a 10.4% year-over-year decrease in sales on a 12.5% decline in traffic at brick-and-mortar stores for the retail month of February (Feb. 1-28).
Roundy’s net income doubles in Q4; will open five stores

Milwaukee – Roundy’s Inc. reported net income of $7.5 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, more than double $3.5 million in the same quarter the prior fiscal year. A shift from net after-tax loss to net after-tax income from 27 Rainbow stores that were closed or sold drove net income growth.

Roundy’s plans to open five new stores in fiscal 2015, including one in the first quarter.
Cartridge World builds responsive e-commerce site

McHenry, Ill. – Specialty toner retailer/franchisor Cartridge World has created a unified shopping experience across multiple devices, establishing an automated fulfillment workflow, as well as integrating e-commerce into the franchise business model. Working with Web development company Devbridge Group, Cartridge World launched a responsive design-based e-commerce site that offers the same intuitive shopping process across all platforms.
Harris-Teeter helps Kroger beat Street in Q4 as company racks up another impressive year

Cincinnati – Benefits from its acquisition of the Harris-Teeter grocery chain, which The Kroger Co. acquired in January 2014, helped boost results at Kroger during fourth quarter 2014. It was the supermarket giant’s 45th consecutive quarter of same-store sales growth.

Kroger’s net income rose 23% to $518 million, beating Wall Street expectations with a 22% increase from $422 million last year.
Membership, profits grow again at Costco

The holidays were happy for Costco with solid gains in sales and favorable membership trends fueling profits even as low gas prices and a strong dollar had a profound effect on same store sales.

Sales increased 4% to $26.9 billion and membership sales grew 5.8% to $582 million, resulting total revenues that grew 15.8% to $27.5 billion during the company’s second quarter period ending Feb. 15. Total company same store sales advanced 8% excluding the impact of fuel prices and a stronger U.S. dollar.
Why retailers should be worried about Etsy

Never heard of Etsy? Time to start paying attention to the 10-year-old company that defines its value proposition as connecting people and reimagining commerce.

The unique online marketplace, where you can buy hand-knitted baby shoes or a vintage night light with Elvis Presley’s face on it, has filed for a sure-to-be-closely-watched $100 million public offering.