Data & Analytics

Walldorf, Germany — SAP AG plans to acquire SeeWhy, a Boston-based provider of cloud-based behavioral target marketing solutions. SAP intends the addition of SeeWhy to complement its Hybris commerce platform with one-to-one personalized marketing based on real-time customer behavior that converts customer interactions into sales.

San Francisco — Stitch Labs has launched a new user interface for its inventory management platform. Designed to meet the unique needs of retailers, the interface incorporates new visual and interactive experiences.

Mobile shopping, same-day delivery, and growing volumes of data from online channels are forcing retailers to a tipping point to remain competitive and better respond to evolving customer needs and preferences, according to a new research report by Capgemini Group.
 

Walmart served up dozens of its top executives to the media this week for two days of store tours and briefings in advance of the company’s shareholders meeting, which began Friday, June 6 at 7 a.m. What follows are 10 key takeaways and select nuggets from the meetings before the meeting.
 

The Men's Wearhouse expects to complete its merger with Jos. A. Bank in the next few weeks, and looks forward to reaping the benefits of that combination as it closes its fiscal first quarter ended May 3.

Total net sales for quarter increased 2.3% to $630.5 million from $616.5 million in the prior-year quarter. Retail segment sales for the quarter increased by 2.4% and corporate apparel sales increased by 0.8% as compared to the prior year quarter.

Walmart chairman Rob Walton encouraged employees to “go for it,” and president and CEO Doug McMillon said the company would accelerate the pace of change during the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting June 6 in Fayetteville, Ark.
 

Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores CEO and president Bruce Johnson cited weather and promotions as factors affecting the retailer’s first quarter results.

Net sales in the quarter decreased 1.9% to $589.9 million from $601.1 million in the first quarter of 2013, driven primarily by a 6.2% decrease in same-store sales. Lower initial franchise revenues and lower liquidation revenues on end-of-season mark-out apparel merchandise received from Sears Holdings also negatively impacted net sales.

ShopperTrak, a leading global provider of consumer behavior insights and location-based analytics, has signed Journeys as its 1,000th customer. The milestone agreement aims to enhance the in-store customer experience at more than 1,000 North American locations of the specialty lifestyle retailer.

U.S. retailers reported 5% year-over-year growth in general merchandise, apparel, furniture and other (GAFO) retail sales. According to monthly figures from in-store retail analytics provider Euclid, shoppers made fewer trips to the store than expected, but were very engaged and showed a lot of intent to buy.

Euclid also reported 7% growth year-over-year in clothing and apparel sales and 2% growth year-over-year in general merchandise sales. Shopper traffic declined 11% compared to the same month last year, as travel plans appeared to cannibalize leisure time.

Loblaw Companies Ltd. and LoyaltyOne's Precima merchandising/marketing solutions provider are renewing and expanding their long-term engagement. Precima has been working with Loblaw for a number of years with a focus on developing and executing customer-centric merchandising and marketing strategies.