Data & Analytics

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized Stater Bros. Markets with its GreenChill Partnership's "Best Emissions Rate" award.

The honor recognizes the supermarket chain for maintaining the lowest corporate-wide refrigerant emissions rate among large retail GreenChill partners — some 10,800 stores in all — in 2014. It is the third time Stater Bros. Markets has been recognized with this distinction.

Nearly a year after a massive data breach, the Home Depot is looking to a cybersecurity veteran to add expertise to its board directors.

The world's largest home improvement retailer said it has appointed Linda R. Gooden to the company's board of directors. Gooden will serve on the company's Audit and Leadership Development and Compensation Committees. Her appointment gives the company 12 directors, 11 of whom are independent.

Troubled retailer Lumber Liquidators is reaching out to customers in a new and unusual way.

The company, which has experienced significant financial difficulty since 60 Minutes ran a report in March alleging dangerously high levels of formaldehyde in Chinese hardwood products it sells, is launching an online “Before and After” gallery.

Rawlings Sporting Goods Company Inc. is taking its store operations game up a notch. The St. Louis-based vertical sporting goods retailer will use the RetailNext store analytics platform to optimize its brick-and-mortar shopping experience at all five company-owned factory outlet stores.

The comprehensive RetailNext platform will be deployed at all Rawlings-owned factory outlets in an attempt to uncover deep customer behavioral insights that can be used to create a better in-store experience.

By now, you’ve probably heard that Facebook will be testing a “dislike” button. Unconfirmed reports say the button will be designed to let users express empathy for posts about negative events, such as the death of a loved one.

Assuming Facebook does introduce a dislike button, retailers will need to decide whether to enable it on their Facebook pages. Here are two pros and one con a dislike button would pose to retailers.

Pro #1: Instant Sentiment

Global management consultancy Kurt Salmon is acquiring digital retail technology agency Mobispoke LLC, the engine behind such technologies as smart fitting rooms, integrated mobile apps and other leading-edge, interactive shopping experience technologies.

Following the acquisition, Mobispoke will rebrand as Kurt Salmon Digital and will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Kurt Salmon.

The National Retail Federation has formed a new entity to enhance the strategic value of NRF and the e-commerce, mobile and innovative initiatives that exist within the retail industry.

The members-only Digital Council, powered by NRF’s Shop.org digital division, will support and promote collaboration on digital retail trends and strategies, the development of original research, and educational events and advocacy opportunities in Washington, D.C.

The CEO of The Container Store says the company is still on track to maximize profitability despite a disappointing second quarter that produced little sales and revenue growth.

The Texas-based chain reported that for the second quarter ended Aug. 29, revenue edged up 1.2% to $195.5 million. Net income fell by more than 60% to $2.67 million, with earnings of $0.06 per share, a penny less than the consensus forecast and down by more than half from last year's $0.14 per share showing.