Data & Analytics

Dallas – Shopping is becoming more of a snap than ever for mobile-savvy customers at Neiman Marcus.

The tony department store chain is partnering with visual search technology provider Slyce Inc. to expand the “Snap. Find. Shop” feature available in the retailer’s mobile app.

Elgin, Ill. – The latest retail breach to become public knowledge targeted a small chain, but involved a third-party vendor.

Village Pizza & Pub, a two-store local pizza chain headquartered in Elgin, Illinois, was notified on July 27 of a security breach by TransformPOS, the company that provides its POS payment card processing system.

Philadelphia - Pep Boys is shifting its inventory management efforts into high gear.

The auto parts retailer is deploying the 4R Systems Inc. retail inventory solution across its 800-plus stores in 35 states and Puerto Rico.

Pep Boys holds 16 million SKUs on replenishment, and 4R's scientific algorithm matches supply with demand for each SKU throughout the entire omnichannel supply chain. The system is designed to deliver an improved customer experience and improved financial results.

Would-be experts are portraying a federal appeals court ruling in the Neiman Marcus data breach case as a tipping point toward victims of cyber fraud, one that may lead to a wave of successful class-action lawsuits filed against retail chains.

This interpretation is premature.

It is an overreach rooted in a lack of appreciation for the overall procedural context in which the court reviewed the case, without accounting for the most important part of any class action lawsuit – class certification.

Columbus, Ohio – Big Lots on Friday reported second-quarter profit and revenue that beat analysts' estimates. The retailer also announced several promotions as part of a realignment of its supply chain management.

Big Lots’ net income dropped 13% to a better-than-expected $17.63 million from $19.94 million, with loss from discontinued operations cutting otherwise flat profit.

Net sales for the quarter increased 1% to $1.21 billion, from $1.19 billion. Same-store sales rose 2.8%.

The turnaround plan at Big Lots, which is helping the retailer grow profit and same store sales, is also prompting some management changes.

For the second quarter ended Aug. 1,  same store sales increased 2.8%. Net sales increased 1.2% to $1,209.7 million. Big Lots reported a profit of $17.6 million, or 34 cents a share, down from $19.9 million, or 36 cents, a year earlier. Excluding certain items, per-share profit rose to 40 cents from 31 cents. Revenue edged 1.2% higher to $1.21 billion.

Much has been said lately about the proliferation of mobile and online shopping. But brick-and-mortar retail continues to thrive – a fact that tends to get glossed over.

Chicago - Starwood Retail Partners is rewarding mall shoppers, regardless of which stores in the mall they choose to shop.

Starwood is rolling out Oh, So Simple Rewards, a program that lets consumers earn credit for their purchases at stores across the entire mall.