Data & Analytics

Jacksonville, Fla. — A new report from Acosta Sales and Marketing reveals that consumers at all income levels consider price before making a purchase, showing that economic concerns affect everyone.

Washington, D.C. — Former Microsoft executive, Tom Litchford, has been named The National Retail Federation's new VP retail technologies.

Effective July 2, Litchford will lead and manage NRF's Association for Retail Technology Standards and the exclusive, invite-only CIO Council. He will be responsible for developing and enhancing strategic programs, activities and relationships with retail and technology communities both domestically and internationally.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said in a Friday emailed statement that the co-heads of its technology unit @WalmartLabs are leaving the company.

Venky Harinarayan and Anand Rajaraman, who ran the 200- person unit in San Bruno, Calif., are taking some time off from the industry, according to the statement. The pair took the helm of @WalmartLabs when Wal-Mart bought their company Kosmix last year.

Wal-Mart said the rest of the technology team will remain intact.
 

Wallingford, Conn. -- Edible Arrangements announced on Friday a strategic partnership with private equity firm Catterton Partners, which includes a capital investment toward expanding the Edible Arrangements brand globally. 

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

In addition, Edible Arrangements founder and CEO Tariq Farid said that Catterton Partners brings significant resources in areas from strategy to customer relations to supply chain management, which will accelerate the company's ability to reach new levels of growth.

UNION, N.J. — The growth prospects of the nation’s leading home goods retailer is being questioned following a solid first quarter performance and weaker-than-expected outlook.

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. — Kohl’s Department Stores is strengthening its commitment to renewable energy, by increasing its solar program by nearly 25% in 2012, installing solar panels at approximately 30 additional Kohl’s locations.

IRVINE, Calif. — Vizio has agreed to let Curtis International Ltd., which sells digital televisions in the United States and Canada under the Curtis brand, become a licensee under Vizio's QAM patent portfolio. The parties have not disclosed financial terms of the agreement under which Curtis has agreed to make royalty payments to Vizio for sales of licensed products.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid maintained its same-store sales momentum, posting gains across front-end and pharmacy comparable sales for the sixth consecutive quarter: Overall same-store sales were up 2.5%, reflecting a 2.7% across the front-end and a 2.4% uptick across pharmacy, for the first quarter ended June 2.

You can learn a lot by monitoring consumer conversations in social media. It can predict political elections, the Oscars and even the next reality show winner. If you are a CPG marketer, social media can also be a real-time predictor of your new product’s success.

Ideeli will be able to further expand its capabilities, thanks to a $30 million investment from Credit Suisse and current institutional investors. According to the company, the new capital will be used to strengthen its infrastructure and fuel the flash-sales retailer's growth prospects.