Data & Analytics

Plano, Texas -- J. C. Penney Company will open its first-ever store in Brooklyn, further increasing its New York City footprint, on Aug. 29. The all-new 124,000-sq.-ft., single-level store, located in Gateway Center, will provide a look at Penney's updated store model, which includes a new footwear format.  

Once again a move by our innovative friends at Amazon.com has prompted me to write a Tech Bytes column. Amazon’s latest interesting venture is the launch of an online marketplace for items created by 3D printer. Currently, the online 3D printed products store includes more than 200 items in categories such as jewelry, toys, home décor and fashion accessories. The new store will feature design templates for product individualization and 3D preview capability.

Office Depot softened the blow of weak second quarter sales by bumping up the pace of 400 store closings to drive greater than expected operating profit growth and expense savings related to the merger with OfficeMax.

Scotts Miracle-Gro reported declines in sales and income for the third quarter of 2014, but pointed to momentum that may place the company at the top end of its guidance for the year.

Groupon has named Parker Barrile as its SVP of product. He will lead Groupon’s global product teams focused on Web, mobile and design.

“Parker brings tremendous value to Groupon both as an entrepreneur and an established, effective product leader in global tech organizations,” said Groupon CEO Eric Lefkofsky. “He will help us evolve our local commerce platform to further engage our customers and help make Groupon a premier online shopping destination.”

As today’s healthcare market continues to evolve, CVS Caremark’s portfolio of enterprise assets is enabling the company to provide innovative solutions and products that are delivering results, as evidenced by its “strong” second-quarter results released Tuesday morning.

Just a few days after naming a new CEO, Target issued a preliminary update on its second-quarter expenses related, in part, to the December 2013 data breach.  

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is updating its website with new features and enhancements to provide shoppers with a more personalized, faster and improved shopping experience.
   

San Francisco -- Digital payments company Square announced that it has acquired Caviar, a start-up that specializes in food deliveries from high-end restaurants.

“Caviar’s curated, seamless delivery experience is exactly the kind of service we want to provide to buyers and sellers,” said Square cofounder and CEO Jack Dorsey. “By making delivery such a fast, friendly, and easy process, Caviar gives time back to restaurants so they can focus on what they do best — cooking great food for their customers.”