Data & Analytics

Atlanta – Havertys reported essentially flat net income growth in the second quarter of fiscal 2014. Net income was $4.82 million, compared to $4.83 million in the second quarter of the prior fiscal year.

Net sales rose 2.5% to $175.13 million, from $171.11 million. Same-store sales climbed 3.2%.
 

New York – Old Navy is launching a back-to-school promotion on the YouTube video platform. The retailer is releasing a video of a new back-to-school anthem, “Unlimited,” featuring cameos by stars of the youth multichannel network AwesomenessTV.

Ottawa, Canada – Leading the pack of the most price-dynamic retailers are Amazon and Sears, according to analysis from price intelligence technology vendor 360pi. Both retailers change prices on 15%-20% of their 360pi-sampled assortment on a daily basis.

New York - Ugam, a provider of managed analytics technology, has released Assortment Intelligence, a solution that generates insights for retailers about what products to keep, carry and drop, based on real-time data collection and analysis. The solution delivers rich, accurate, up-to-the-minute data that helps merchandisers identify assortment gaps and opportunities to differentiate their offerings.

Grapevine, Texas – The GameStop Technology Institute (GTI) business unit of GameStop has entered into strategic partnerships with iBeacon solution providers Shelfbucks and BestFit Mobile, as well as social media hub provider Dynamic Signal. The partnership with Shelfbucks and BestFit will bring Shelfbucks’ iBeacon platform and BestFit Mobile’s ProxDK solution into to its brick-and-mortar retail locations.

GameStopTechnology Institute (GTI), the specialty retailer’s business unit, has entered into strategic partnerships with Shelfbucks, BestFit Mobile and Dynamic Signal to further extend its focus on driving technological innovation and change within its store environments.

GTI was launched by GameStop to pursue an open innovation strategy whereby the company partners with leading organizations and institutions to explore and build best-in-class research and development capabilities.

Fortune Brands Home & Security has acquired Sentry Safe, a leading manufacturer of personal safes with estimated annual sales of $150 million. The transaction closed early this week for $117.5 million and was funded from the company's existing credit facilities.

Sentry Safe will become part of Master Lock, a leading padlock brand in North America. Sentry Safe is headquartered in Rochester, New York, and has approximately 500 employees, with manufacturing facilities in Rochester, New York, and Cannelton, Indiana.

HH Gregg president and CEO Dennis May expected the company’s first quarter to be challenging, but he did not envision a 10.2% same store sales decline or a $10.3 million loss.

Fingerprinting and DNA sampling are on back-to-school lists at Sam’s Club this year where the warehouse club operator is using the allure of free services to expose would-be members to its value proposition.

On Saturday, August 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at clubs nationwide Sam’s is offering DNA testing and fingerprint kits as part of an annual free children’s health screening program. The screenings, which combine health and child safety information are available at the 596 Sam’s locations with a pharmacy.