Data & Analytics

New York -- TJX Cos., The Buckle and Zumiez all reported better-than-expected same-store sales for April, even as concerns about the job market bit into other retailers’ results.
   
TJX Cos. said that same-store sales in April were up 8% on strong customer traffic, better than 6.8% increase that analysts had expected. For the four weeks ended May 4, total revenue rose 9% to $2 billion.
   

Chicago -- Dillard's has selected OpinionLab to extend its omnichannel “Voice of Customer” program including its digital, mobile and in-store experiences, with precise insight into what its customers want and need.

TJX and Ross both reported April sales results that exceeded expectations. Same store sales for the four-week period ended May 4, increased 8% for TJX, while Ross saw a same-store sales increase of 7% for the same period.

DALLAS — Kimberly-Clark has named Karen Leets as its new VP and treasurer, succeeding Nancy Loewe, who will continue to serve as the company's chief strategy officer. Leets will report to SVP and CFO Mark A. Buthman.

In her new role, Leets will be responsible for the entire treasury practice at Kimberly-Clark, including capital markets, cash planning, global cash and foreign exchange management, real estate and banking and rating agency relationship management.

Palo Alto, Calif. -- Two-thirds (66%) of smartphone and tablet users have failed to complete an online transaction due to obstacles at checkout, according to a new survey from Jumio and Harris Interactive. Specific obstacles causing smartphone and tablet shoppers to abandon their shopping carts at the last minute include mobile checkout process being too long or difficult and not feeling secure in giving credit card information.

Target’s new “Cartwheel” Facebook shopping app is a great concept – use the world’s most popular social media platform to help generate in-store traffic. But the execution is clunky. It kind of reminds me of the second “Star Wars” trilogy that came out around the turn of the millennium – the back story of Darth Vader was rich with potential, but George Lucas polluted a great dramatic story arc with floppy-eared aliens and lame attempts at political commentary.

New York -- Checkout remains the number one in-store pain point for 73% of U.S. consumers, according to a survey by Synqera, a global technology startup that uses big data to bring personalized digital experiences to the physical retail store.    

The survey found that more than two-thirds of Americans prefer to shop in traditional, brick and mortar stores than online commerce sites, and that shoppers gravitate towards retail locations that offer customized shopping experiences but that

NEW YORK — The Buckle and Zumiez all reported better-than-expected same-store sales for April, even as concerns about the job market bit into other retailers’ results.

The Buckle, Inc. reported a 6.2% increase in same-store sales for April, well ahead of the 1.5% same-store revenue growth anticipated by Wall Street analysts. The teen apparel retailer also reported year-to-date same-store revenue growth of 1.2% and total sales of $269.7 million, a 2.3% increase.