Data & Analytics

Advance Auto Parts announced its CEO is stepping down as the retailer also reported a decline in third quarter profit and nearly flat same-store sales.

The auto parts retailer reported that for the third quarter ended Oct. 10, same-store sales increased .5%. Profit declined 1.4% to $120.5 million, or $1.63 per share. Revenue ticked up slightly to $2.3 billion.

When your retail operation is already the size of a small city and you’re planning growth, maintaining communications is a critical task.

Bloomington, Minnesota-based Mall of America, which spans four levels and 5.5 million-sq.-ft. of retail space (plus parking ramps, service corridors, etc.) and is seeking to expand, faces that exact situation. The mall, home to 520 stores, more than 50 restaurants, an indoor theme park and other attractions, is switching from an analog communications system to the Motorola Solutions Mototrbo digital two-way radio system.

Musicians are notoriously individualistic people, and specialty instrument retailer Guitar Center is launching a redesigned website with this user base in mind.

Westlake Village, California-based, 270-store Guitar Center has launched a new redesigned website with a more seamless omnichannel user interface. Based on the current Oracle Commerce platform, the redesign is the result of a two-year initiative that involved customer insight and user experience teams, both of whom worked together with end-users and consultants.

Outdoor enthusiasts can now purchase outdoor goods from the indoor comfort of their homes.

Nordstrom joined Macy's this week in blaming weak traffic for its disappointing same store sales as the Seattle-based chain also lowered its full-year guidance.

Nordstrom Inc. said that for the third quarter ended Oct. 31 same store sales increased .9%. It posted earnings of 57 cents per share on $3.33 billion in revenue. And net sales increased 6.6 percent.

Strong back-to-school sales allowed Kohl's to upstage Macy's in the third quarter.

Kohl's revenue rose a better-than expected 1.2% to $4.43 billion in the period ended Oct. 31. Same-store sales rose 1%. Earnings fell to $120 million, or 63 cents a share, from $142 million, or 70 cents a share, a year earlier. Excluding a loss on the extinguishment of debt, adjusted per-share earnings were 75 cents a share, which also beat expectations.

PayPal Inc. is continuing its evolution from serving as the digital payment platform for former parent company eBay Inc.

Since its July split from eBay, new PayPal initiatives have included serving as a payment option for a number of new retail partners, reversing a policy that previously excluded U.S.-based online gambling sites from accepting PayPal, and expanding a global free returns service in the U.S.

Those in the know say nobody walks in Los Angeles, and Amazon.com wants to make sure Los Angeles residents don’t have to move their legs to get restaurant food.

Amazon’s Prime Now one-hour delivery service has expanded in Los Angeles to include delivery from local restaurants. Using the Prime Now mobile app, Prime members in Los Angeles can view participating restaurants, browse menus, place orders, track the status of their delivery, and watch delivery driver progress in real time.