Data & Analytics

MINNEAPOLIS — Target closed out a “year of transition” and is now looking to the future as it sharpens its focus on key priorities, including digital, smaller formats and wellness.

Tokyo - Shiseido Co. Ltd., a global cosmetics manufacturer, will empower its nearly 10,000 beauty consultants in Japan with IBM mobile apps designed to provide new customer services, customer-centric product improvements and social innovations.

Ace Hardware’s formula of localizing merchandise and offering individualized customer service is continuing to pay off for the hardware retail cooperative.

The company reported record revenues, profits and patronage for fiscal 2014. Ace had revenues of $4.7 billion, an increase of $546.3 million or 13%. Revenues increased $496.9 million or 12% as compared to fiscal 2013. Net income was $140.9 million for fiscal 2014, an increase of $36.4 million or 34.8%, from fiscal 2013.

Framingham, Mass. – Staples Inc. has launched the “Staples Business Loans powered by Lendio” service to provide access to capital for small business owners. Staples teamed up with Lendio, a financial technology firm and small business-lending marketplace, to deliver a suite of funding options.

Staples Business Loans offers more than 20 different funding options and the flexibility for businesses to use the money for whatever their business needs.

Home Depot posted a better-than-expected fourth quarter performance, but warned that a strong dollar could hurt its results for the year.

The retailer posted an 8.3% increase in sales to $19.2 billion, and fourth quarter net earnings were up 36.1% to $1.38 billion. Same store sales for the quarter were positive 7.9%, and positive 8.9% for U.S. stores.

Los Angeles - American Apparel Inc. has named Thoryn Stephens as chief digital officer, a newly created position, and Cynthia Erland as senior VP of marketing. Both Stephens and Erland will assume their roles on March 9 and will report to CEO Paula Schneider.

New York - Luxury retailer Bergdorf Goodman has partnered with Borderfree, a provider of international cross-border e-commerce solutions, to open its website and sell to international shoppers with BFX, Borderfree’s new global e-commerce platform for retailers.

As Macy’s undergoes aggressive changes to better compete in an omnichannel retailing world, the company reported a decline in profit for the fourth quarter.

For the quarter ended Jan. 31, profit fell to $793 million from $811 million. Per-share earnings were $2.26 a share, up from $2.16 a share a year earlier. Same store sales grew 1.7% Revenue increased 1.8% to $9.36 billion.