Data & Analytics

Every retailer needs a good CFO and that’s especially true at Conn’s where the company’s business model requires balancing the need to grow sales against the charge off risk associated with extending credit to subprime customers.

Wayne, N.J. – Toys “R” Us is taking e-commerce into its own hands.

In a move to optimize its e-commerce business and significantly improve the customer experience online, the toy giant announced plans to bring its U.S. e-commerce operations in-house. The plans include building and managing a new platform for Toysrus.com, Babiesrus.com and FAO.com.

Toys “R” Us expects to launch its own online platform by the end of summer 2016.

Headwinds from fuel price fluctuations and currency exchange rates lessened for Costco in June as the retailer posted a bump in same store sales.

The warehouse club reported net sales of $11.01 billion for the month of June, the five weeks ended July 5, an increase of 1% from $10.88 billion during the similar period last year. Same store sales, excluding the negative impacts from gasoline price deflation and foreign exchange, were 6%. 

New York -- Although the list of retailers reporting monthly sales has grown considerably slim over the past few years, a handful are still going public with the metric.

Costco Wholesale Corp. announced on Thursday that its same-store sales fell 1% in June, following a 1% drop in its most recent quarter (ended May 1), which was the chain’s first quarterly drop since 2009.

New York -- The online checkout space keeps getting more crowded.

American Express on Thursday launched Amex Express Checkout, an alternative online payment method that its U.S. card members can use to check out and pay on partnering websites and apps. Unlike other online payments tools currently in the marketplace, Amex Express Checkout does not require a card member to create or manage a new account.

L Brands Inc. continues to surpass expectations as the parent company of Bath and Body Works and Victoria's Secret reported a bump in same store sales.

The company said net sales increased 3% to $1.207 billion for the five weeks ended July 4, compared to net sales of $1.176 billion for the five weeks ended July 5, 2014.  Same store store sales for the five weeks ended July 4, 2015, increased 3%.

Burlington, Ontario -- Ikea Canada announced the national rollout of electric vehicle charging stations at each of its 12 stores across Canada.  

The rollout, set to be completed by late August of this year, is the first national installation of EV charging stations in Canada by a retailer at all of its locations.