Data & Analytics

Oakville, Ontario – Customers at participating Tim Horton’s stores throughout Canada and the U.S. using BlackBerry 10 smartphones will be able to register a Tim Card on the TimmyMe mobile app and use NFC tap-to-pay technology to complete their order. Future development plans will also see this platform expanded to Android 4.4 devices.

Dallas -- Alliance Data Systems, a leading provider of loyalty and marketing solutions derived from transaction-rich data, announced its retail services business, which manages more than 120 private label and co-brand credit programs, has signed a multi-year renewal agreement to continue providing private label credit card services for home decor and lifestyle retailer Z Gallerie.

The specialty retailer operates 58 stores located in 19 states, featuring an eclectic mix of upscale home furnishings and accessories.

Amit Menipaz, general manager of structured data at eBay, and John Inwright, president and CEO of Quality Supply Chain Co-op, the co-op for Wendy’s, have been appointed to the GS1 U.S. board of governors.
 

Washington, D.C. – Retail sales in November increased a better-than-expected 0.7% seasonally-adjusted month-to-month, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. (The figure includes categories such as automobiles, gasoline stations, and restaurants.) Analysts were expecting sales to rise 0.6% in last month. The latest retail sales numbers were 4.7% above November 2012 numbers.

So far 20 states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws permitting and regulating the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Colorado and Washington have gone further and legalized the recreational use of marijuana. Moreover, Americans’ tolerance for the legalization of marijuana is increasing. An October 2013 Gallup poll showed that 58% of Americans favor legalizing marijuana.

What does this trend mean for retailers, especially those operating in multiple states? The answer is complex, as the law is evolving.

Kathy Hendricks, who had overseen ABC Supply’s information technology function for 28 years, most recently as VP and chief information officer, has been appointed to the newly created position of executive director of customer connectivity.

In her new role, she will lead ABC Supply’s strategic initiative to design, develop and implement the new information technology services that will connect ABC Supply to its customers and make it easier for its customers to run their businesses.

New York -- Despite a number of economic factors that have shaken consumer confidence lately, including the government shutdown and continued high unemployment rates, retailers and manufacturers believe holiday sales will rise slightly compared to last year, according to Capital Business Credit, a non-bank lender that services the retail sector.

New York -- Amazon.com made more than 2.5 million price changes a day throughout November, according to price intelligence firm Profitero. By comparison, in November, Best Buy implemented a total of 52,956 price changes every day and Walmart a total of 54,633 price changes.

Profitero’s analysis revealed that Amazon.com has increased its number of daily price changes 10-fold during the last 12 months. At the beginning of December 2012, the online retailer implemented just 269,113 price changes.