Data & Analytics

A 1,500-store market potential and an untapped online opportunity await Michaels Stores in 2014 as the retailer’s private equity owners look to sell a portion of their stake and return the nation’s largest arts and crafts retailer to public ownership.
 

As Seen On TV — a multichannel distributor of products in such areas as kitchen, outdoor, electronics and clothing — is planning to acquire Infusion Brands International, the marketer behind the renowned "Dual" brand and the strategic partner of Ronco Holdings.

Southern Wine & Spirits has enhanced its forecasting and replenishment capabilities with the appointment of Mel Velez as VP of demand planning and logistics.

The company said the addition of Velez to an already industry leading supply chain management team will further enhance its ability to deliver excellence in service to divisional and retail customers, as well as to continue to enhance and expand partnerships with suppliers across the Southern enterprise. He will report to Phil Morsing, VP of supply chain operations.

With 3,500 locations currently installed at retail and another 1,000 on the way in 2014, SoloHealth Stations are giving new meaning to affordable health care.

Electrolux plans to expand its North American headquarters, their second expansion at this location in three years, and will be adding 810 new local jobs as a result.

The new jobs are in the areas of research and development, marketing, design, engineering, supply chain, finance, IT and executive management, and will be added by the end of 2017.

Site search specialist SLI Systems has elected New Zealand marketer and social media executive Andy Lark as a non-executive independent director.

"We are very pleased to add Andy's wealth of global brand, e-commerce and marketing experience to the SLI Board," said SLI Systems Chairman Greg Cross. "With his direct experience of building and funding businesses, he is conversant with the challenges unique to a fast-growing technology company like SLI Systems."

The number of ConAgra Foods facilities achieving Energy Star certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to grow.

The company’s latest class of Energy Star achievers includes eight operations, one of which, the ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston/BSW facility in Warden, Wash., is receiving an Energy Star for the first time.

Richmond Hill, Ont. -- Interactive mobile advertising technology provider iSign Media Corp. has developed the Smart Player Kit. The solution is a form of advertising technology that combines digital signage with mobile messaging.

Through this technology, restaurants can now send real-time discounts and offers to customers’ mobile phones while they’re in close proximity or inside the restaurant ready to make a purchase.

New York -- Chain Store Age's Retail Store of the Year design competition has added a new category for its 2014 awards: in-store digital innovation. Retailers, design firms, vendors and suppliers are all eligible to submit entries.

Deerfield Park, Ill. – Walgreen Co. reported a healthy 68% surge in net earnings during the first quarter of fiscal 2014 to $695 million from $413 million in the same period a year earlier.

Net sales rose about 6%, to $18.3 billion from $17.3 billion, while same-store sales grew 5.4%.