Data & Analytics

Technology evolves to let smaller stores maximize energy savings

Savvy retailers using technology to update look, feel of physical stores

What’s going to keep people coming back to physical store locations, as comfort levels with e-commerce rise every year? Savvy retailers are fighting technology with technology, refreshing the look and feel of their stores by integrating more gadgets, and using data in a more integrated way to inform strategy.

Technology is helping stores provide shoppers with a personalized experience.

Twenty retail industry professionals dreaming of making it big in the retail industry have a unique opportunity thanks to the National Retail Federation.

NRF is collaborating again with University of Phoenix School of Business to award 20 full-tuition scholarships to retail industry professionals who want to enhance their careers through education.

Smart retailing, deep services and creative marketing lure shoppers to top malls

The retail industry is ever-changing, with shoppers now looking to malls as a place of both business and socialization. A constant evolution of attractions is needed to entice them to visit a center and then keep them coming back on a consistent basis.

Savvy mall owners are challenged to practice smart retailing and deliver creative, on-trend marketing tactics when leasing, marketing and operating shopping centers.

Issaquah, Wash. – A tax benefit in connection with a special cash dividend helped boost net income at Costco Wholesale Corp. a better-than-expected 29% to $598 million from $463 million in the company’s second quarter of fiscal 2013.

Sales increased 4% to $26.9 billion and membership sales grew 5.8% to $582 million, with total revenues increasing 15.8% to $27.5 billion during the quarter ending Feb. 15.

Strong traffic in the pharmacy department helped Rite Aid post a lift in same-store sales for the 52 weeks ended Feb. 28.

Same-store sales for the 52-week period increased 4.3% over the prior-year period. Front-end same-store sales increased 1.2%, while pharmacy same-store sales increased 5.8%. Prescription count at comparable stores increased 3.5% over the prior-year period.

Cincinnati – Benefits from its acquisition of the Harris-Teeter grocery chain, which The Kroger Co. acquired in January 2014, helped boost results at Kroger during fourth quarter 2014. It was the supermarket giant’s 45th consecutive quarter of same-store sales growth.

Kroger’s net income rose 23% to $518 million, beating Wall Street expectations with a 22% increase from $422 million last year.

The holidays were happy for Costco with solid gains in sales and favorable membership trends fueling profits even as low gas prices and a strong dollar had a profound effect on same store sales.

Sales increased 4% to $26.9 billion and membership sales grew 5.8% to $582 million, resulting total revenues that grew 15.8% to $27.5 billion during the company’s second quarter period ending Feb. 15. Total company same store sales advanced 8% excluding the impact of fuel prices and a stronger U.S. dollar.