Data & Analytics

Later this year, Target will begin rolling out a key program that will enhance inventory visibility and accuracy in a way that the chain store giant hopes will “work its magic in the background to provide people with a seamless, stress-free shopping experience,” as the announcement from its corporate blog stated back in May.

Kearney, Neb. — The Buckle Inc. beat Wall Street expectations for profit in the second quarter of fiscal 2015. The retailer achieved this feat even as net income slipped 4% to $23.5 million from $24.1 million.

Growth in cost of sales and selling expenses cut The Buckle’s profit. Net sales increased 0.1% to $236.1 million from $235.7 million. Same-store sales decreased 1.7%. In one bright note, online sales increased 17% to $20.1 million from $17.1 million.

Houston — Stage Stores Inc. plans to close 90 underperforming stores, representing 4% of total sales, after a disappointing second quarter that missed Wall Street expectations for profit and revenue. The retailer expects the closures to enhance its capital efficiency, deliver higher productivity and be accretive to earnings.

The 90 closings include 27 stores expected to be shut down during fiscal 2015. Stage also plans to open three new stores during the fiscal year.

Sam’s Club is taking its efforts to woo small business customers to social media.

The retailer is launching #SmallBizHelp, an interactive social media campaign that offers expert advice on starting and running a business.

London, U.K. — Online retailing giant Amazon.com is the retail industry's fastest growing social media brand. According to the latest Retail Social Media Benchmark results from eDigitalResearch, Amazon tops both the Facebook and Twitter social media rankings.

Amazon climbed to the benchmark's top spot, thanks in part to its recent Prime Day sales event, having gained more than 1.2 million new followers on its Twitter account since the last wave back in March.

Albany, N.Y. — The global POS terminal market is set to boom in the next five years. On the basis of revenue, the global POS terminal market stood at $36.86 billion in 2013, and it is expected to demonstrate an impressive 11.6% compound annual growth rate during the period of 2014-2020, according to a new report.   

San Francisco – Gap Inc. experienced increases in cost of goods sold and operating expenses as sales fell during a difficult second quarter of fiscal 2015, resulting in substantial profit decline. Gap reported net income of $219 million, down 51% from $332 million in the same quarter the prior fiscal year.

Columbus, Ohio — L Brands Inc. met Wall Street expectations with profit and revenue in the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Net income grew 7% to $202.48 million from $188.36 million the same period a year earlier.

The cost of goods sold rose at a slower rate than net sales, helping boost profits. Net sales grew 4% to $2.76 billion from $2.67 billion. Same-store sales rose 3% overall, with the Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works banners both posting a 3% same-store sales lift.