Data & Analytics

Irving, Texas – The Michaels Companies Inc. has launched online arts and crafts classes taught by instructors and industry experts through an exclusive partnership with Creativebug, a subscription-based provider of online DIY instruction. Accessible anytime, anywhere, the video classes provide the novice crafter with basic techniques, such as beginning calligraphy and paper crafting, while also teaching more advanced skills and projects.

By Kent Smith, Galleria RTS

Well-stocked shelves and falling sales is a dilemma faced by many retailers today. New technology advancements such as mobile discount apps are the latest threat to grocery retail sales. Many people simply complete their grocery shopping from the convenience of their own home.

Retailers are finding it hard enough to survive, let alone thrive with channel and segment blurring making it a consumer world. The message is simple, have what you want, when you want it and at the price you want to pay.

Irvine, Calif. -- Hanley Investment Group announced that Ed Hanley, Kevin Fryman and Eric Wohl negotiated the sale of an 88,000-sq.-ft. Kohl's Department Store, located in the Los Angeles area. The single-tenant triple-net leased property sold for $21,950,000, representing a historic national record-breaking low cap rate of 4.80%. 



By Steve Weber, nChannel

Shopping cart abandonment is a problem that costs retailers nearly $20 billion each year, according to a study by SurePayroll. If you’re putting effort into attracting customers and enticing them with products they’d like to buy, only to have them stop short of the finish line, you’re leaving money and opportunities for repeat business on the table.

Improved customer service programs and a better store experience helped regional grocery chain Weis Markets post a jump in same store sales for the fourth quarter.

The Sunbury, Pa.-based food retailer reported that its fourth quarter same store sales increased 3.5%, while its net sales increased 4% to $713.8 million. During the 13-week period ending Dec. 27, the company's earnings per share totaled 51 cents compared to 59 cents for the same period in 2013. The company's fourth quarter net income declined 11.6% to $13.9 million.

American Eagle Outfitters reported better-than-expected revenue for the fourth quarter, as an improved assortment and fewer discounts drove sales.

The teen apparel retailer said it earned $61.6 million, or 32 cents a share, in the fourth quarter, up from $10.5 million, or 5 cents a share, in the year-earlier period. Revenue grew 3% to $1.07 billion. Same store sales, which includes online sales, were flat, but they beat management forecasts.

E-commerce home furnishings company Wayfair continues to lose money, but not as much as analysts had expected.

The company announced it posted a loss of 18 cents per share in the fourth quarter, below the 28-cent loss analysts forecasted. Wayfair generated $1.3 billion in net revenue last year, up 44% over 2013. Sales in its direct-retail segment, which consists of sales from five key brands, surged to $347 million as the number of active customers increased by 54%.

The new owner of Shoes.com is not wasting any time in its quest to compete in a market dominated by Amazon and Foot Locker.

Shoeme, the parent company of OnlineShoes.com and Shoeme.ca, has formally re-launched Shoes.com after buying the website in December with a refreshed design and expanded product offering, now with more than 450 brands.

Amid an $8.7 billion pending sale to an investment firm, PetSmart reported fourth quarter profit and revenue that exceeded Wall Street’s expectations.

For the period ended Feb. 1, the company posted a profit of $132.1 million, or $1.32 a share, up slightly from $131.5 million, or $1.28 a share a year earlier. Revenue grew 6% to $1.91 billion, topping the $1.87 billion analysts had predicted.

Net sales increased 6% to $1.9 billion, from $1.81 billion. Same-store sales growth, including sales from online websites, rose 2.6%.

Troubled retailer Abercrombie & Fitch continued to be out of favor with its teen target market in the fourth quarter, with declines in both income and sales. 

Looking ahead, the company said its priorities include increasing comparable sales trends in both its U.S. and international stores, making strategic investments in its omnichannel business, ongoing expense reductions, and selective expansion in high-growth international markets.