Data & Analytics

Dallas -- Alliance Data Systems Corp. said Monday that it has acquired the receivables associated with The Talbots Inc.’s existing private-label credit card file, and will acquire the credit card accounts, pending regulatory approval. The receivables portfolio totals about $145 million.

Alliance Data also said that its Retail Services business will provide private-label credit card services for Talbots, as well.

New York -- Saks Inc. said Monday it has launched AT&T Wi-Fi at all 44 retail locations nationwide.

The AT&T Wi-Fi network connects shoppers with mobile tools such as the new Saks Fifth Avenue app, which offers features such as shareable wish lists, fashion look books, event calendars and more. AT&T customers with select Wi-Fi enabled devices will auto-authenticate to the in-store Wi-Fi service, so frequent shoppers will be automatically connected to Saks Fifth Avenue’s Wi-Fi each time they re-visit the store.

All Walmart and Sam’s Club merchants can expect to have a portion of their compensation tied to the achievement of live better sustainability goals in 2013 as part of what president and CEO Mike Duke called an unwavering commitment to sustainability.

With shoppers making fewer trips and impulse purchases, the need to influence them earlier and more frequently in the purchase decision-making cycle is critical for sales success. To accomplish this, consumer packaged goods (CPG) retailers and manufacturers are increasingly using cooperative advertising and promotion programs that target shoppers at home when they are most likely to be planning shopping trips and creating lists. As retailers, understanding what your competition is planning for in-home is just as essential to staying competitive as what’s happening in-store.

New York -- Retailers may soon be getting an assist from the weather, according to a Friday report from Planalytics. Businesses should be prepared for a demand spike in seasonal products as consumers react to the change in conditions, the report advises.
 

Cincinnati -- KSS Retail, a division of Dunnhumby, announced that Bi-Lo Holding, the Jacksonville, Fla.-based parent company of Bi-Lo and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, has extended its business relationship with KSS Retail to include price modeling and optimization services for the Winn-Dixie banner.

FORT WORTH, Texas — Pier 1 Imports continues on a positive trajectory, reporting its 12th consecutive quarter of earnings and same-store sales growth.

For the second quarter, the company reported net income of $26.2 million, or 24 cents per share, compared with net income of $16.6 million, or 14 cents per share, for the same period last year.

BUCKEYE, Ariz. — Walmart boosted its sustainable reputation Thursday with the announcement of a new solar initiative at its distribution center near Phoenix.

The retailer will outfit the DC with more than 14,000 solar panels -- making it Walmart's largest solar installation to date. The panels will cover the 1,000 sq. ft. building and parking canopies. The panels will produce up to 30% of the center's energy needs and generate up to 5.3 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy per year, according to Walmart.

OMAHA, Neb. — ConAgra Foods has been named to two leading sustainability indices. For the second straight year the company has earned a spot on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, and for the first time, the company has been added to the Carbon Disclosure Project’s (CDP’s) 2012 Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Thursday it has launched an expansion of its solar initiative in Arizona at its Buckeye distribution center near Phoenix.

According to the retailer, the distribution center will feature Walmart's largest solar installation to date with over 14,000 solar panels on a 1 million-sq.-ft. building and parking canopies that will produce up to 30% of the DC’s energy needs.

The solar panels will generate up to 5.3 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy per year.