Data & Analytics

Palo Alto, Calif. -- Curbside, a new startup that specializes in same-day pickup from local stores, launched its service on Monday with several retailers on board, including a pilot with Target Corp.

The new service is currently available in 10 Target stores across the greater San Francisco Bay area, including the retailer’s Metreon and Geary St. locations downtown.  

By Randy Vanderhoof

After large-scale payment data breaches at Target, Sally Beauty, Michaels, Niemen Marcus and the recently confirmed breach at Home Depot, it seems that no retailer is safe from skilled hackers. The incidents also bring to light such questions as “why are payment system breaches happening more frequently?” and “how can they be stopped?”

The Woodlands, Texas – Conn’s Inc. is considering a sale of the company, as well as splitting up its retail and credit businesses, following a cut in its profit forecasts in its second quarter results. Other options could include reducing the pace of new store openings and returning capital to investors.

Palo Alto, Calif. – HP plans to separate into two new publicly traded Fortune 50 companies: one comprising HP’s enterprise technology infrastructure, software and services businesses, which will do business as Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, and one that will comprise HP’s personal systems and printing businesses, which will do business as HP Inc. and retain the current logo.

Menomonee Falls, Wis. - Kohl’s Department Stores is launching a new omnichannel loyalty program called Yes2You Rewards in stores and online nationwide. The program is designed to offer personalized “incentives and surprises,” as well as points for every in-store and online purchase.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. - Dollar General’s new Fast Way to Save program is now available in stores and online through Nov. 15. The program utilizes Dollar General’s new DG Digital Coupon platform powered by Coupons.com and offers an additional $100 in digital coupon discounts to Dollar General customers.

New York – Coach Inc. has leveraged the MicroStrategy Analytics Platform and MicroStrategy Mobile to produce automated reporting that provides anytime, anywhere visibility down to the store level. Coach has built an interactive mobile application using MicroStrategy Mobile that provides its retail teams with the ability to examine sales trends for any given geography, including at the individual store level, with a swipe or tap on their iPad devices.

Cincinnati - Phillips Edison–ARC Shopping Center REIT Inc. acquired 11 grocery-anchored shopping centers during third quarter 2014. The company's portfolio now consists of 131 properties located in 27 states and leased to 38 leading grocery store anchors.

The 11 grocery-anchored shopping centers acquired during the third quarter to date expanded the company's presence in 10 states: California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Bentonville, Ark. – Walmart is expanding its role in health care. The retail giant is teaming up with DirectHealth.com, an online health insurance comparison site and agency, to set up counters in its stores where shoppers can speak with licensed agents about available health insurance options. Walmart’s expanding role in health care comes as drug store chains, including Walgreens and CVS, continue to beef up their own healthcare services.