Data & Analytics

By Ron Menich, Ph.D., EVP and chief scientist, Predictix

Wherever you turn today, Big Data is impacting every facet of society and business — and retail is no exception. For example, consider the impact of weather patterns on retail sales.

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. retail sales edged up 0.2% in July from June, according to figures from the Department of Commerce. This followed a 0.6% month-over-month boost in sales in June, driven by strong auto sales. The slower sales uptick reflected a drop in purchases of automobiles, along with furniture and electronics.

Pittsburgh – Giant Eagle is deploying EPiServer CMS and commerce solutions to enhance its customer online experience. The company leverages EPiServer technology to extend and deliver a multichannel, multi-platform experience online.

Acton, Pa. -- Action Services Group, a national lighting, sign and electrical maintenance company, has signed a service agreement with The Starboard Group to provide exterior sign and lighting maintenance services for its 75 Wendy’s restaurant units.

The two-year maintenance program covers proactive, scheduled quarterly visits to the Wendy’s restaurant units located in Alabama, Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia under a fixed monthly fee.  

Washington, D.C. – Seventy-two percent of online adults in the U.S. use social media. Data from the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project shows that Twitter is helping drive this widespread social media use, as the percentage of Internet users who are on Twitter has more than doubled since November 2010, currently standing at 18%.

Santa Clara, Calif. -- Oracle Corp. is launching version 13.3 of its Retail Allocation solution that is designed to deliver real-time inventory levels along with sales and planning information for better assortment planning. Oracle Retail Allocation 13.3 uses embedded business intelligence and multiple data sources to support role-based dashboards that give recommendations based on the entire lifecycle of a product.

New York -- J.C. Penney Co. announced that activist investor and hedge fund manager Bill Ackman has resigned from the board of directors of the company, effective Aug. 12. His resignation comes in the wake of a very public and heated campaign in which he called for the ouster of Penney interim CEO Myron Ullman and chairman Thomas Engibous.

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — Whirlpool Corporation has entered into agreements to become a majority shareholder in Hefei Rongshida Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd., a leading home appliances manufacturer based in Hefei, China.

Through this transaction, a Whirlpool Corporation subsidiary will acquire all shares currently owned by Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd. and Sanyo Electric Co. (China) Ltd., and purchase new Hefei Sanyo shares via a private placement.

LOS ANGELES — Specialty sporting goods retailer Sport Chalet is touting its services and assorted selection of brands to runners. 

The retailer is reminding runners that it offers “extensive online show advice” to accurately fit athletes with the correct running shoe, not to mention a selection of brands which include Adidas, Asics, Brooks, New Balance, Nike, Reebok and Saucony. The retailer also offers custom in-store gait assessments.

NEW YORK — Gilt, an online shopping website, has appointed Tracey Weber as chief operating officer, effective September 3. Weber joins Gilt from Citibank, where she was the managing director, North America Internet and mobile and global product.  

In her role as chief operating officer, Weber will have responsibility for many of Gilt's operations, including Gilt City, international, customer service and merchandise planning; she will also oversee several new strategic initiatives. Weber will report directly to CEO Michelle Peluso.