Data & Analytics

NEW YORK — Coach announced that Zach Augustine will join the company as EVP, global environments, effective March 11, reporting to Reed Krakoff.

Augustine will lead initiatives across visual merchandising, architecture and creative cevelopment partnering with the other leaders to create a consistent and cohesive brand story.

By Oren Betzaleli, EVP, head of product and marketing, Retalix

As smartphones and tablets continue to infiltrate the market, they are increasingly changing the way people interact with each other, receive information, and expect to be served by retailers and service providers. As a result, more and more retailers are starting to offer self-service mobile applications as a popular means to manage customer interaction and relationships.

Retailer-Owned vs. Consumer-Owned Self-Service

New York -- A new report by Experian Marketing Services finds that several key retail trends will impact how marketers shape their messages in 2013.

According to the 2013 Digital Marketer Report, consumers today are multi-device and multichannel shoppers, forcing digital marketers to adapt and evolve their message to reach consumers across channels and all along the path to purchase.  

Franklin, Tenn. -- The overall penetration of POS devices continued to expand 3.9% in North America and 4.6% around the globe in 2012, according to The POS Vendor Shipments Database, released Wednesday by IHL Group. Growth is expected to continue at 3.6% worldwide for 2013.  

Kapolei, Hawaii -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced Wednesday that, together with SunEdison, it has completed new solar power installations at three Walmart stores in Kahului, Kailua-Kona and Kapolei, Hawaii, doubling the total number of stores in Hawaii powered by renewable solar energy.

The installations contribute to Wal-Mart’s objective of being supplied 100% by renewable energy. Similar installations are already in operation atop the Honolulu Sam's Club and Mililani Walmart on Oahu, and the Lihue Walmart on Kauai.

NEW YORK — Saks reported that sales for the fourth quarter were up 5.6% over the same period last year. Same-store sales were up 0.7% for the period.

For the fourth quarter Saks recorded net income of $20.4 million, or 13 cents per diluted share, compared with net income of $37 million, or 21 cents per diluted share for the same period last year.

SEATTLE — Amazon.com announced that its Amazon Cloud Player app for iPad and the iPad mini is now available in the Apple App Store. The app allows customers to play or download music stored in Cloud Player to their iPad, play music that is already stored on their device, and manage or create playlists.

MINNEAPOLIS — Start-up expenses and other costs related to its Canadian entry reduced Target's earnings per share for the fourth quarter by approximately 18 cents.

The company reported fourth quarter net earnings of $961 million, or $1.47 per share, compared with $1.45 per share for the same period last year. Adjusted earnings per share, a measure the company believes is useful in providing period-to-period comparisons of the results of its U.S. operations, were $1.65 in fourth quarter 2012, up 10.1% from $1.49 in 2011.