Data & Analytics

Lenexa, Kan. – Four-in-10 (42%) college students around the country would "probably not" or "definitely not" make more mobile payments if they were widely available. A survey sponsored by Balance Innovations showed that another 42% reported they would use their mobile phone "somewhat more, depending on the retailer or purchase," and only 16% of those surveyed said they absolutely would use mobile payments "all the time."
 
Additional insights from the survey include:
 

Sydney, Australia - Quick Service Restaurant Holdings (QSRH) has selected Micros Simphony for its three Australian brands, Red Rooster, Oporto, and Chicken Treat. The cloud-based Micros Simphony Enterprise solution, to be self-hosted and systematically implemented across 550-plus stores, will include point of sale, labor and the Micros Kitchen Display System (KDS).

St. Petersburg, Fla. - Net income declined at HSN Inc. during the first quarter of fiscal 2014 even as sales slightly improved compared to the same period a year earlier. Net income dropped 23% to $24.18 million from $31.54 million.

Net sales climbed 1% to $772.42 million from $772.65 million. A slight decline in average price point, as well as a higher tax rate and increased cost of sales, helped push HSN’s net income down. Mindy Grossman, CEO of HSN, also cited severe weather as a negative financial factor in the quarter.

Denton, Texas – Sally Beauty Holdings reported declining net earnings in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 compared to the second quarter of the previous fiscal year. Net income fell 9.9% to $58.9 million, from $64.89 million.

Net sales fared better, rising 2.4% to $919.47 million from $898.24 million. Same-store sales grew 1%. Higher selling, general and administrative expenses, as well as charges related to a previously disclosed data security breach, impacted net earnings. Sally Beauty also cited weather as negatively impacting sales.

Framingham, Mass. - Staples is launching its new Staples EasyTech Total Support plan, which provides consumers and small businesses with comprehensive technology services for both their new and old PCs, including upgrades, maintenance and installations. The service builds on Staples’ EasyTech program that launched in 2007, and helps customers make more happen with their devices.

Seattle – Blue Nile Inc. reported increases in net income and sales during the first quarter of 2014, compared to the same period in the prior year. Net income rose 30% to $1.07 billion, from $832 million.

Net sales increased 6.8% to $103.7 million, compared to $97.1 million. Looking ahead, Blue Nile expects net sales between $108 and $113 million during the second quarter of fiscal 2014 and net sales between $485 and $510 million for fiscal 2014.

Fort Worth, Texas – Pier 1 Imports (U.S.) Inc., a subsidiary of Pier 1 Imports Inc., has completed the amendment of its $350 million senior secured revolving credit facility and syndicated and closed a previously announced $200 million seven-year senior secured term loan B.

Proceeds from the $200 million term loan are intended to be used for general corporate purposes, including, among other things, working capital needs, capital expenditures, cash dividends and repurchases of the company’s common stock.

New York -- Aeropostale Inc. will close approximately 125 of its mall-based P.S. from Aeropostale kids’ stores by the end of its fiscal year and cut about 100 corporate jobs as part of a larger turnaround effort.

By Jason Fredrickson, Guidance Software

The recent cyber attacks on Target, Neiman Marcus and Michaels Stores had an immediate and profound impact on sales, as well as a widespread and ongoing ripple effect on consumer confidence in the safety of credit-card information at point-of-sale (POS) terminals.

Ten years ago, demographic experts predicted a looming talent shortage: When the massive baby boom generation retired, the small Generation X would not have enough experienced leaders and managers to fill the positions that boomers would vacate.