Data & Analytics

I recently attended the 2014 SPECS (Store Planning, Equipment, Construction Services) conference in Grapevine, Texas, and came away with some fascinating food for thought. The event, which is produced by Chain Store Age, celebrated its 50th anniversary this year.

The ability to integrate more data from more sources faster than ever to accelerate decision-making forms the core value proposition of an the new SAS Customer Intelligence solution unveiled this week at the software company’s Global Forum.
 

Newton, Mass. – Clark’s Americas Inc., a division of the global shoe brand with more than 300 stores in the U.S., is deploying the Yottaa Engagement Cloud to optimize user engagement and business performance on its U.S. e-commerce site. In fall 2013, the e-commerce team at the Americas division of Clarks sought a solution that could help scale and provide a consistent, engaging Web experience throughout the busy holiday shopping season and beyond.

Boston -- The single biggest challenge for retailers is to understand, empower and represent the digitally empowered consumer across all touch points, according to new research from Oracle.

A severe winter may have affected sales results for many retailers, but Five Below saw improving trends as it weathered the fourth quarter.

Net sales increased by 22% to $212 million from $173.6 million in the prior-year quarter, which consisted of 14 weeks. Comparable-store sales increased by 0.3% on a 13-week basis.

The company ended the quarter with 304 stores in 19 states, an increase of 25% from the end of the prior-year quarter.

GameStop has launched the GameStop Technology Institute (GTI), a new business unit focused on creating affiliations with leading technology corporations and academic institutions to discover and deliver business innovation and technology solutions “to better address the needs of today’s empowered consumer.”

Last month, Amazon started hiding listings for certain products if they do not have a GTIN, better known as the Universal Product Code (UPC). Now eBay, Google and Walmart have endorsed a drive to help businesses obtain valid GTINs for products sold online.

Both are significant developments in a larger trend, as major e-commerce players look to dramatically reduce the number of inaccuracies that online shoppers encounter every day.
 

New York -- Kohl’s Corp.’s chief merchandising officer, Donald A. Brennan, resigned his position, effective as of April 1, 2014. Kohl's disclosed Brennan's departure in a filing this week with securities regulators.

Under a separation agreement with the department-store operator, Brennan will receive a one-time severance payment equal to 2.9 times his annual salary plus the average of the three most-recent annual incentive compensation plan payments paid to him, according to a regulatory filing.