Data & Analytics

New York -- Enterprise users will gain unprecedented control over their technology environment in 2014. This is the overarching theme of the key enterprise technology trends Verizon has identified for 2014.

In brief review, the trends include:

The Customer of One Comes of Age

By Ali Lipson, senior retail and apparel analyst, Mintel

Home improvement retailers are reaping the rewards of a healthier housing market and so is Williams-Sonoma. The company reported strong third quarter results and raised its fourth quarter outlook as a result.

Comparable brand revenue growth in the quarter increased 8.2% on top of 8.5% in the year-ago quarter. The company saw revenue growth across all its brands, but results were primarily driven by West Elm, which saw revenue jump 22.2% compared to 13% last year, and PBteen, which saw revenue jump 16.7%, compared to 2% last year.

San Francisco – Gap Inc. is rolling out its “Reserve in Store” capabilities to all U.S. Banana Republic stores and more than 200 Gap stores in 15 major U.S. markets. The launch, which follows a successful pilot in San Francisco and Chicago-area Gap and Banana Republic stores, makes it easy for customers to shop online or with their mobile device, place items on hold and pick them up in local stores.

San Jose, Calif. -- Propelics, a provider of enterprise mobile strategy and mobile apps, today announced strong adoption for its solutions in the retail market. The company said it helping such retailers as Family Dollar, Payless ShoeSource, and Hallmark as improve the customer, store associate, and store operations experience though the implementation of a solid enterprise mobile strategy.

Strong retail sales in the month of October point to a good holiday sales season ahead. According to the National Retail Federation, October retail sales, excluding automobiles, gas stations and restaurants, increased 2.5% seasonally adjusted over September, and 4.2% unadjusted from 2012.

In a broader view, October retail sales released Wednesday by the U.S. Census Bureau, which include non-general merchandise categories such as automobiles, gasoline stations, and restaurants, increased 0.4% seasonally adjusted month-to-month, and 3.9% adjusted year-over-year.

Redwood City, Calif. -- Macy’s flagships in Herald Square, New York, and Union Square, San Francisco, are the first major retail locations to deploy Shopkick’s Apple iBeacon-based presence signal. The trial pairs Shopkick and Macy's, an inaugural Shopkick partner, at the forefront of the mobile in-store experience. Now in closed beta, the trial is anticipated to go live to Shopkick users within weeks.

Despite a weak demand for core office supplies, Staples is driving growth online and in new categories, which resulted in net earnings of $135.2 million for the third quarter ended Nov. 2, compared with a loss of $596.2 million a year earlier.