Data & Analytics

Vertical specialty workwear retailer Carhartt Inc. is gaining an unprecedented view into what customers want, when they want it.

Carhartt is leveraging the new IBM Commerce Insights solution that is designed to help online retailers evaluate category and product performance for quick merchandising decisions. Leveraging cognitive capabilities from Watson Analytics,IBM Commerce Insights provides a single view of customer behavioral, market and business performance data directly on Carhartt’s storefront.

The nation’s largest supermarket operator reported profit that surpassed Wall Street expectations and raised its annual forecast.

Ulta Beauty's formula of one-stop shopping for prestige, mass and salon beauty products continued to produce impressive sales and earnings growth in the third quarter.

Ulta' s net income increased 20.2% in the quarter, to a better-than-expected $71.1 million, from $59.1 million in the year-ago period. Total sales rose 22% to $910.7 million, also more than expected. Online sales surged 56.3% to $46.2 million. Same-store sales were up 12.8%, driven by a 10.6% increase in transactions and 2.2% growth in the average ticket.

Michaels says its new marketing and merchandising strategies are resonating with customers, as the arts and crafts retailer reported an uptick in same-store sales for the third quarter.

The retailer said comps increased 3.1% in the period ended Oct. 31. Sales rose 3.4% to $1.17 billion. The company posted a profit of $76.8 million, or 37 cents per share, compared with $64.1 million, or 31 cents per share a year prior.

Walmart has kicked off one of its most omnichannel marketing campaigns ever with its Holiday Sing to Salute Military Families.

The nationwide campaign encourages the public to sing a portion of a classic holiday song while capturing it on video, and then post the video on social media channels to show support for members of the military and their families.

Strong sales at Maurices and Lane Bryant weren’t enough to lift Ascena in the first quarter, as the company reported a decrease in comps.

For the period ended Oct. 24, the company reported a net loss of 10 cents per diluted share compared to net income of 32 cents per diluted share in the same period of fiscal 2015. The company blamed the decrease on transaction costs related to the acquisition of Ann Inc., which closed during the first quarter fof fiscal 2016. Comps dropped 3% in the first quarter.

Despite significant investments by many retailers, U.S. consumers are unsatisfied with the levels of customer service offered this holiday season.

According to the new 2015 Retail Holiday Customer Experience study from customer engagement solutions provider Eptica, 35% of consumers are unhappy with the online experience. This figure rises to 40% in store.

Hennes & Mauritz AB (H&M) is going green for its first store in Lower Manhattan.

The retailer will open a 25,000-sq.-ft. store at Westfield World Trade Center, set to open in spring 2016. It will be H&M’s 17th location in New York City, and its first U.S. store to apply for LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification.