Data & Analytics

All eyes will be on Walmart’s new CEO Doug McMillon next week when the company reports worse-than-expected fourth quarter results on Thursday, and McMillon makes his first public comments since becoming CEO.

McMillon is no stranger to providing financial updates during the company’s pre-recorded earnings calls, investor conferences and analysts’ meetings. He performed those duties on numerous occasions during the past decade while serving as president and CEO of Walmart International and president and CEO of Sam’s Club before that.

Minneapolis — A “phishing” attack using an email containing malware reportedly enabled hackers to gain access to Target’s computer network in 2013. According to the security blogger Brian Krebs, an employee at the HVAC vendor Fazio Mechanical in Sharpsburg, Penn. which includes Target among its clients, opened a fraudulent email that allowed hackers to enter Fazio’s network and take over a computer.

Retail and financial trade associations have banded together to combat cyber crime in wake of the Target data breach.

Chicago — Consumers reportedly are not willing to pay higher fees for Amazon Prime subscription service. According to the Wall Street Journal, a recent survey of 300 current Amazon Prime members from research firm Consumer Intelligence Research Partners indicates fewer than half of members would renew their subscription at a higher cost.

Whole Foods Market said total sales for the first quarter ended Jan. 19 climbed 10% to a record $4.2 billion. But those results reportedly missed analysts’ expectations, and the company has lowered its earnings outlook for 2014 as a result.

Momentum at Whole Foods — as well as shares — slipped. Comparable store sales for the quarter increased 5.4%, compared to a 7.2% increase in the prior year.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.  — Catalogs.com has launched Dynalog, a new dynamic digital catalog solution that enables retailers to create interactive e-catalogs that are optimized for Web and mobile devices. The solution does not use PDFs or shrink down existing catalogs into digital format, but allows retailers to develop, customize and launch customized digital catalogs within 30 minutes.

Indianapolis – Hhgregg has promoted Kevin Lyons to senior VP e-commerce. Lyons joined Hhgregg in May 2013 as VP e-commerce, and has since led the e-commerce team’s creation of an online development and promotional strategy.

Kevin Lyons to senior VP e-commerce. Lyons joined Hhgregg in May 2013 as VP e-commerce, and has since lead the e-commerce team’s creation of an ambitious online development and promotional strategy.

By Dr. Paul Helman, KSS Retail

Before 2013 was over, prognosticators were making bold predictions about retail margins in 2014. As technology disrupts the market and chains feel the squeeze, a number of key areas will demand attention in the coming months.

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