Data & Analytics

Austin, Texas -- Retail Systems Research (RSR) today launched the RSR Omni-channel Maturity Survey, an online self-assessment tool that helps retailers determine where they are on the road to omni-channel maturity. Sponsored by Starmount, the survey enables retailers to understand the traits of today’s omni-channel leaders and the technology infrastructure that is required for omni-channel retailing.

Chicago -- Almost half of Americans (46%) report they will spend less on the holidays than last year, with those living in the South more likely than any other region to say they plan to spend less this year at 55%.

An online survey conducted in October 2013 among 2,014 Americans ages 18 and older by Harris Interactive on behalf of online lender CashNetUSA also shows that only 8% of Americans indicate they plan to spend more on the holidays this year than last year and 37% indicated they would spend the same as last year.  

Denver -- Thirty percent of shoppers say the ease, speed, and low prices offered online make it a clear solution for the value and time-saving shopping experience they seek. An ongoing shopper behavior study from The Integer Group and M/A/R/C also shows that although mass merchants remain a popular holiday shopping destination, a leading 54% of shoppers say they will take advantage of free shipping deals that e-retailers can offer.

Walnut Creek, Calif. – Retail merchandisers are expressing a pragmatic need for speed in future merchandising applications. According to a new study from RSR Research, “Merchandising Today: Benchmark 2013, 28%” top-performing retail “winners” are already investigating simplifying their IT environments with cloud-based merchandising technology.

Washington, D.C. - Earlier this month in Dhaka, Bangladesh, the International Labor Organization (ILO), technical experts from the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, the Accord on Fire and Building Safety, and the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) came to agreement on a common, minimum criterion for fire and structural inspection safety standards, pending a few final modifications.

Washington, D.C. -- Unexpectedly strong retail sales in the month of October point to a good holiday sales season ahead. According to the National Retail Federation, October retail sales, excluding automobiles, gas stations and restaurants, increased 2.5% seasonally adjusted over September, and 4.2% unadjusted from 2012.

Philadelphia — Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust has completed the sale of Chambersburg Mall in Chambersburg, Pa., for $8.8 million.The sale marks another step in PREIT’s continuing effort to improve the quality of its portfolio through the sale of non-core assets. Net proceeds from the transaction totaled approximately $8.4 million.

Redwood City, Calif. -- Macy’s flagships in Herald Square, New York, and Union Square, San Francisco, are the first major retail locations to deploy Shopkick’s Apple iBeacon-based presence signal. The trial pairs Shopkick and Macy's, an inaugural Shopkick partner, at the forefront of the mobile in-store experience. Now in closed beta, the trial is anticipated to go live to Shopkick users within weeks.

Framingham, Mass. -- Staples reported net earnings of $135.2 million for the third quarter ended Nov. 2, compared with a loss of $596.2 million a year earlier.

Sales fell to $6.11 billion from $6.35 billion as the retailer was challenged by soft demand for its products and closed stores in Europe and North America. Same-store sales in North America, excluding sales through Staples.com, fell 3%.

West Palm Beach, Fla. -- FTI Consulting predicts a 4.9% increase in sales this holiday season in its 2013 Holiday Retail Report. Despite slowing discretionary spending growth in recent months and anxiety over political turmoil in Washington, FTI retail and consumer products industry professionals anticipate a potential silver lining to this holiday season.