Data & Analytics

Costco Wholesale Corp.’s winning streak continues as the chain reported a better-than-expected 39% increase in profits for its fiscal second quarter. Here is Planet Retail’s take on the company’s most recent performance and future prospects:
 

Issaquah, Wash. -- Costco Wholesale Corp posted a better-than expected 39% increase in quarterly profit, helped by increasing sales and a rise in membership fees.

Net income was $547 million in the fiscal second quarter ended on Feb. 17, compared with $394 million a year ago.

Dick’s Sporting Goods fell three cents short of analysts’ profit forecast in the fourth quarter thanks to a 1.2% same store sales increase partially caused by unseasonably warm weather and soft sales of big ticket items.

Sales for the 14 week period ended February 2, increased 12% to $1.8 billion compared to the 13 week period the prior year. The company’s consolidated same store sales increase of 1.2% was driven by a 54.2% increase in online sales, offset by a 2.2% decrease at Dick's Sporting Goods stores and a 1.3% increase at Golf Galaxy stores.

DETROIT, Mich. — Southern department store chain, Belk, has teamed up with ePrize to launch Belk's 125 Days of Prizes, a multi-channel sweepstakes program celebrating Belk's 125th anniversary.

ATLANTA — The Coca-Cola Company and IFC (International Finance Corporation), a member of the World Bank Group, have formed a $100 million, three-year joint initiative to provide access to finance for women entrepreneurs in Eurasia and Africa.

NEW YORK — Saks Fifth Avenue has redesigned the Saks.com homepage to include a longer, more fluid layout that more prominently highlights seasonal trends and most-wanted designers. 

The new site now features larg-scale photography, improved navigation, easier access to magazine-style features and enhanced product detail pages.

Saks.com was last refreshed in July 2010 and the last complete redesign was in September 2007.

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. — Dove is celebrating International Women's Day by giving women the power to control Facebook ads so they can fight back against the ones that prey on their insecurities and promote the positive ones.

NEW YORK — Control Group, a New York City-based technology and design firm, has unveiled its work with the newly launched Kate Spade Saturday brand. The unique concept celebrates the social side of shopping by bringing the online experience into the retail stores. The first experience will be through the flagship store in Tokyo, which opened on March 2. It will roll out to all other retail stores – both in the United States and Japan – throughout 2013.

AUSTIN — Catalina has unveiled BuyerVision Mobile, the mobile ad solution for CPG brands with the ability to deliver personalized media based on in-store purchase history. Already influencing more than 230 million shoppers through the leading in-store media network, Catalina’s new offering delivers personalized mobile advertising to 70 million households.

AUSTIN — Catalina has unveiled BuyerVision Mobile, the mobile ad solution for CPG brands with the ability to deliver personalized media based on in-store purchase history. Already influencing more than 230 million shoppers through the leading in-store media network, Catalina’s new offering delivers personalized mobile advertising to 70 million households.