Data & Analytics

Watsonville, Calif. – West Marine's renewed focus on omnichannel growth seems to be paying off as the specialty retailer reported a big spike in same-store sales in the second quarter.

The California-based retailer reported net income of $20.9 million, up 14% from $18.3 million the same period a year earlier.

Net revenues were $253.2 million in the second quarter ended July 4, an increase of 7.1% compared to last year. Same-store sales increased by 7%.

The company also gave an update on its growth efforts:

New York -- The big spenders are at Costco.

People spent 149% more at Costco than at other retailers, according to mobile-location firm Placed, which linked store spending to tracked locations. Best Buy BJs, Sam's Club and Ikea also ranked high, Advertising Age reported.

Skechers USA Inc., which recently passed Adidas to become the number two athletic footwear brand in the United States, is on the fast track.

The company, whose second quarter sales beat estimates, has carved out a lucrative niche in casual athletic footwear and in kids’ athletic footwear. It is in expansion mode, with plans to open 125 to 135 company-owned and third-party-owned stores later this year.

WOONSOCKET, R.I., and ARMONK, N.Y. — CVS Health and IBM on Thursday announced they will use predictive analytics and Watson cognitive computing for care management services for patients with chronic disease.

Online home furnishings retailer Wayfair is partnering with Sherwin-Williams on a digital tool that aims to help shoppers plan and execute their DIY projects.

Wayfair.com plans to launch a Restore & Renew DIY Hub: a custom-designed online resource that features four Sherwin-Williams Diversified Brands, including Purdy, Krylon, Thompson’s WaterSeal and Minwax, with exclusive content that will help consumers bring their DIY projects to life. 

Minneapolis – Dairy Queen restaurants thrive on providing customers treats, not exposing them to tricks from hackers and fraudsters.

To ensure the good times keep rolling, American Dairy Queen Corp. (ADQ) in the U.S. is deploying the cloud-based Netsurion managed firewall platform to strengthen network security and Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance to protect customer data.

Houston - Baker Katz, an X Team International partner and full-service commercial real estate brokerage firm, has acquired a 4.5-acre property with plans to renovate two existing buildings totaling 33,000-sq.-ft. in Atascocita, in the Greater Houston area.

The firm plans to renovate the two buildings that were constructed in 1984 to update the architecture and attract new retail tenants. Construction is slated to begin early next year. Jim Bayne with Investar Real Estate Services represented the seller for this transaction

Palm Coast, Fla. -- A transformation is underway. Branch Properties is in the midst of a $40.8 million redevelopment of the largest (and oldest) retail shopping center in Palm Coast, Florida.

Island Walk, once called Palm Harbor Shopping Center, is a 204,000-sq.-ft. center anchored by Publix Super Markets. Once completed in 2016, the upgraded retail destination will bring new and expanded tenants and amenities to the Palm Coast community in an effort to revitalize the city’s original core.