Data & Analytics

Irvine, Calif. – Tilly’s, Inc. has partnered with Thanx Media to host and manage its Oracle Endeca implementation. Tilly’s worked closely with Thanx to select and implement the best solution to meet its goals of improved search engine optimization (SEO), site search, and product merchandising within site search results.

East Pennsboro Township, Pa. – Rite Aid has reportedly been ordered to pay $12.3 million in a civil lawsuit accusing the retailer of illegally dumping hazardous waste from more than 600 stores in California. According to the Los Angeles Times, San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Linda L. Lofthus handed down the ruling in a suit brought against Rite Aid by the district attorneys of San Joaquin, Los Angeles and Riverside counties.

As might be expected from a retail chain that serves as an extension of a technology brand, Microsoft stores are sleek and futuristic. Store layout is open and interactive, with a wide variety of opportunities for shoppers to engage with technology. However, customer-facing technology is limited to products on display, without IT features such as self-service kiosks or electronic shelf labels that can be found at many other stores.

Interactive Promotional Display

By Joe Easley, Sr. Director, Business Development & Product Strategy, Kobie Marketing

As retailers continue their quest for deepening customer engagement, they’ll often turn to a loyalty program. Yet high membership numbers are deceiving because engagement levels are actually stagnant. This poses the question, are loyalty programs right for every brand? How do brands choose the right strategy for customer engagement and the overall integration of the loyalty program within the brand?

Target has launched a streaming digital video service nationwide. Called Target Ticket, it gives customers an easy way to access and enjoy movies on preferred digital channels and devices at any time. 

Target has a partnership with San Francisco-based Common Sense Media, a nonprofit group that reviews movies and television shows. The retailer said the partnership would make it easier for parents to choose the right content for their children and set up filters for violence, profanity and ratings and customize a profile for each family member.

Stratacache, a leading provider of scalable, high-performance digital signage, content distribution and enterprise video acceleration technologies, has announced its Optika specialty display division has opened a new, state-of-the-art optical bonding and display enhancement facility in Huber Heights, Ohio. 

The 25,000-sq.ft. facility will be home to Optika’s bonding, resizing, lighting and advanced testing operations, along with a new outdoor digital signage research and testing area. 

nGage Labs, a leading provider of in-store shopper engagement solutions for retailers, has appointed Kelly Gibson as the company’s director of retail engagement solutions.

eBay Enterprise, a leading global provider of commerce technologies, omnichannel operations and marketing solutions for retailers and brands, introduced its latest suite of commerce technologies at its annual client summit.

Domestic same-store sales at AutoZone for the fourth quarter ended Aug. 31 increased 1% — below expectations. The company did have reason to ride high, however, because it also posted its 28th consecutive quarter of double digit growth in earnings per share. 

Diluted earnings per share increased 23.2% to $10.42 per share from $8.46 per share in the year-ago quarter. Moreover, net sales were $3.1 billion for the quarter, a 12% jump from the same quarter last year. 

Eastman Kodak Company has elected James V. Continenza chairman of the board. Continenza has been a Kodak director since April. Kodak CEO Antonio M. Perez remains a member of the board.

“Kodak is a company poised for growth. I look forward to providing leadership as the company realizes its potential as a technology company focused on the packaging, graphic communications, and functional printing markets,” said Continenza.