Data & Analytics

Online holiday sales continue to set new sales records, according to digital measurement firm comScore, and Walmart is presumably sharing in that growth given its site typically ranks second only to Amazon in terms of traffic.

Total U.S. Shopper Traffic in Retail Stores and Malls for November 2012

Shopper traffic in November increased as Black Friday weekend sales promotions — and the Veterans Day holiday earlier in the month — drew shoppers into retail stores.

As a result, the month saw an 18 percent increase in retail foot traffic compared to October. November 2012 continued a trend of year-over-year improvements with a 6 percent increase in retail foot traffic when compared to the same month last year.

New York -- CVS Caremark is reportedly looking to expand outside of the United States by acquiring Onofre, the eighth-largest pharmacy chain in Brazil, according to published reports.

The Valor Economico newspaper reported that CVS Caremark plans to pay $313 million to acquire an 80% stake in Onofre and will also assume the company's debt.

“We don’t comment on market rumors,” CVS Caremark spokesman Mike DeAngelis told Drug Store News.

New York -- Chain Store Age will hold a webinar on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) that will examine email marketing trends for Black Friday 2012 and how marketers used email to promote store shopping and events during the holiday weekend.

The webinar, sponsored by Bronto, will also cover such topics as promotional trends and the influence of mobile and social. Find out what you will need to do early in next year’s holiday season to ensure success.

New York -- Consumer confidence declined more than expected in December, reaching a four-month low as Americans grew concerned about the possibility of higher taxes next year. The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan preliminary consumer sentiment index decreased to 74.5 this month from 82.7 in November. Economists had projected a preliminary reading of 82 for December.

Nashville – Retail's top industry analysts will join forces with C-level retail executives and technology vendors at the Retail Orphan Initiative's SuperSaturday event in New York on Jan. 12, one day before the opening of the National Retail Federation’s annual convention. Admission to retailers is free, and all proceeds from the vendor sponsorships go to help the Retail Orphan Initiative, Retailroi.org.

New York -- Walmart Canada has retrofitted all of the overhead sales floor lighting at its supercenter in Brampton, Ontario, from conventional fluorescent lighting to high efficiency LED 4-ft. retrofit lamps. The retailer estimates the change could save approximately 283,000 kilo-watt hours (kWh) per year, which will results in a savings of up to $26,000 per year.

LOS GATOS, Ca. — Wanderful Media, a new Silicon Valley company that helps retailers bring consumers into local stores and facilitates ways for consumers to discover local merchandise, has appointed Doug Kilponen as its new COO. In his new role, he will oversee all business units and collaborate with CEO Ben T. Smith IV on strategic goals.

Founded in November 2011, Wanderful Media is creating an online platform for shoppers to explore products and sales with the mission of connecting shoppers with local brick-and-mortar retailers.

PORTLAND, Maine — CashStar, a leading digital gifting company, has partnered with celebrations site Punchbowl.com, which enables its consumers to embed eGift Cards in their digital greeting cards.

More than 500 people are expected to attend the Northwest Arkansas Retail Link User Group’s annual holiday luncheon featuring key Walmart executives as guest speakers.

"The Future of Retail Link," is the title of a presentation to be given by Chris Lamb, a project manager with Walmart’s massive Information Systems Division. Matt Kistler, SVP of merchandise execution with Walmart U.S. also is scheduled to speak.