Data & Analytics

Forever 21 is planning to open 600 new stores in the next three years, and is helping to ensure those stores attract shoppers with Oracle Retail merchandising and assortment planning technology. By more accurately and efficiently predicting what precise individual items (including SKU-level variations) will be in demand in specific locations at specific times, Forever 21 is making stores as customer-centric as possible.

Irvine, Calif. – Custom window covering retailer 3 Day Blinds is taking customization to a new level. The company has selected the engagement marketing platform from Marketo Inc. to create and deliver personalized content to new and existing customers, drive revenue increases and streamline marketing activities.

Pittsburgh – Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. has named CFO Andre J. Hawaux as executive VP, COO/CFO. In addition to his existing responsibilities for finance, legal and IT, Hawaux has expanded his responsibilities to include store operations, real estate and HR.

Hawaux joined Dick’s in 2013 as executive VP, finance, administration and CFO. Prior to joining Dick’s, he was most recently president, consumer foods at ConAgra Foods Inc. Previously, he served as ConAgra Foods' executive VP, CFO from 2006 to 2009.
 

Long Beach, Calif. – Epson has introduced two new OmniLink i-Series smart printers to meet the growing demand for cost-effective, reliable peripheral connectivity in the mobile and tablet POS environments. With Epson’s innovative ePOS-Device technology, Epson's OmniLink i-Series enables retailers to easily add peripheral devices to tablet POS systems, while protecting their legacy peripheral investments. The TM-T88V-i features four USB ports and one serial port, while the TM-T20II-i can accommodate up to three devices.

Deerfield, Ill. - Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. has named Marco Pagni, formerly group legal counsel and chief administrative officer of Alliance Boots, as executive VP and global chief legal and administrative officer. In this role, Pagni will oversee all global legal affairs for Walgreens Boots Alliance and its divisions, including strategy and mergers and acquisitions, working with acting CEO Stefano Pessina.

Dick’s Sporting Goods is expanding the responsibilities of its CFO.

The company says that in addition to serving as EVP/CFO, Andre J. Hawaux has been appointed as executive vice president, chief operating officer. In addition to his existing responsibilities for finance, legal and information technology, Hawaux will also oversee store operations, real estate and human resources.

Carle Place, N.Y. – The September 2014 closing of its acquisition of the Harry & David brand helped produce extremely strong performance during the second quarter of fiscal 2015 at 1-800-Flowers.com Inc. The retailer reported net income of $45.54 million, more than double the $17.99 million reported in the same quarter a year earlier.

By Owen Shapiro

As every marketer knows, the era of Big Data is here, and with it comes a huge smorgasbord of opportunities to connect with customers in amazing new ways. For marketers and brand managers, the prospect of knowing more about customers’ lives, habits, and desires than ever before is understandably exciting.

While you are preparing to take maximum advantage of all the glorious opportunities Big Data offers, keep in mind that the devil in Big Data could be in these overlooked details: