Data & Analytics

LOS ANGELES — Back-to-school shoppers plan on stretching their dollar and taking advantage of retailer incentives to save, PriceGrabber said.

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J. — Samsung Electronics America Inc.received the highest customer satisfaction ranking in three categories in the annual J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Kitchen and Laundry Appliance StudiesSM. The company was a winner in the refrigeration category for the seventh year out of the last eight years, the dryer category for the fifth consecutive year and the washer category for the fourth consecutive year.

Mobile payments and technologies such as near field communications are a double-edged sword. The source of potential improvement to store experience, competitive advantage and efficiency, emerging point-of-sale technologies also create new opportunities for bad guys to steal. That’s why the University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton College of Business and the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) have joined forces on the issue.

ARMONK, N.Y. — In-store sales of women’s clothing are expected to see a 9.2% increase in the third quarter of 2012 versus the year-ago period, according to a just-released IBM analytics-based forecast of U.S. retail sales data. The report predicts a 6.2% increase in sales of children’s clothing and a 5.2% increase in footwear. Men’s clothing, however, is forecast to lag, dropping 6.7%.

Teen retailer Five Below is looking to become a household name following a wildly successful public stock offering this week that could see the company expand its store base from the current 200 units to 2,000.

Safeway’s recently rolled out Just 4 U loyalty program has chairman and CEO Steve Burd optimistic about the grocer’s prospects for sales growth and market share gains. Read more in this special report.
 

BOISE, Idaho — Albertsons Market is implementing the Recall InfoLink product recall management platform into its pharmacy operation to help it streamline the process of managing recalls, the grocer confirmed on Friday.

Recall InfoLink is a patented, Web-based product recall management system designed to improve recall efficiency by providing standardized messages, automated communications, inventory tracking and reports for compliance efforts.

ABILENE, Kan. — Alco this week began offering products for sale on its website. The company has launched an e-commerce site that will offer more than 10,000 items. Features of the site include "24/7" online shopping in a secure, searchable web environment, plus delivery to home or place of business.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Revenue at eBay soared 23% to $3.4 billion during the company's second quarter, thanks to strong performances in its Marketplaces and PayPal businesses.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Dollar General will now offer Westerm Union branded  general-purpose reloadable (GPR) prepaid cards at Dollar General’s more than 10,000 stores in 40 states.