Data & Analytics

Columbia, Md. -- Micros Systems announced that Sonic Corp., the nation's largest chain of drive-in restaurants with over 3,500 locations, has selected Micros as its strategic enterprise solution partner.  

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings’ second-quarter loss widened as the company was challenged with store closings, weak sales and deep discounts. Its performance was also impacted by the lingering effects from its spinoff of its Hometown and Outlet Stores banner.

For the period ended Aug. 3, Sears lost $194 million, compared with a loss of $132 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue dropped 6% to $8.87 billion, from $9.47 billion. Same-store sales fell 1.5%, with a 2.1% drop at Kmart and a 0.8% drop at Sears.

New York -- A disconnect between chief marketing officers and chief information officers threatens the ability of companies to deliver effective customer experiences, according to a new study by Accenture. Only one-in-10 of executives believing collaboration between CMOs and CIOs is currently at the right level.

By John Bajorek, wdpartners.com

It’s easy to get sidetracked by tactics when rethinking retail design and conceptualizing the store of the future. It’s easier still to grow enamored of the potential of technology and consumer data to transform every aspect of the in-store experience.  

Dollar Tree customers are responding to the value retailer’s offerings in discretionary and consumable merchandise categories. As a result, its consolidated net sales for the second quarter ended Aug. 3 were $1.85 billion, up 8.8% from $1.7 billion for the prior-year quarter.

Comparable-store sales increased 3.7%, on top of a 4.5% increase for the second quarter 2012.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings saw revenues decrease to $8.9 billion for the quarter ended August 3, from $9.5 billion for the year-ago quarter. Fewer Kmart and Sears full-line stores accounted for approximately $210 million of that decline. 

ZAANDAM, Netherlands — Dutch supermarket-operating company Ahold has appointed Abbe Luersman as the company’s chief human resources officer.

Ahold said that Luersman, who will report to CEO Dick Boer, will assume the new position on Nov. 1. Ahold's U.S. division operates the Stop & Shop, Giant Food Stores of Carlisle, Pa., and Giant Food of Landover, Md., supermarket banners, as well as the Peapod online grocery service.

YORK, Pa. — Bon-Ton Stores pointed to inclement weather in its markets and higher gas prices in the Northeast and Midwest for overall sales weaknesses which translated into a same-store sales decrease of 6.4% for the second quarter ended Aug. 3.

The unfavorable shift in consumer spending patterns affected the company’s total sales for the quarter, which decreased 6.3% to $557 million, compared with $595 million for the prior-year period.

WEST CHESTER, Pa. — Leading video and e-commerce retailer QVC has launched a second broadcast channel, QVC Plus. QVC Plus will maintain the QVC brand and television experience including shows, exclusive products and program hosts, airing on a three-hour delay of QVC's current live broadcast.

Heading into the 2013 holiday season, NPD is forecasting that full year consumer electronics sales will rise by 9%. According to NPD’s 2013 Household Penetration Study, nearly 72% of consumers expect to buy a consumer electronics product in the next 12 months.

The report found that big ticket items like flat-panel TVs and tablets are fueling the increase in spending. Throughout the next two years, 28% of consumers expect to buy a flat-panel TV while 20% intend to buy a tablet, representing the highest purchase intent levels of all devices measured.