Data & Analytics

It’s working. That was the message Walmart EVP merchandising Duncan Mac Naughton shared this week with those who attended several events in which Walmart’s head merchant offered his perspective on the back-to-basics operational and merchandising philosophy on which the company’s U.S. strategy is once again dependant.

Houston -- Cardtronics announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Cardtronics Canada acquired Mr. Cash ATM Network, Lethbridge, Alberta.

The acquisition expands Cardtronics’ international presence into Canada. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Armonk, N.Y. -- Online holiday shopping in November is expected to grow 12% to 15% versus the year-ago period, with mobile devices such as iPads and Android phones helping to drive spending, according to the IBM Coremetrics Benchmark analysis which gathers data directly from the websites of more than 500 leading U.S. retailers. The analysis also predicts that 15% of people in the United States who log onto a retailer’s website during November will do so through a mobile device.

Columbus, Ohio -- Big Lots reported that U.S. comparable-store sales for the fiscal third quarter ended Oct. 29 rose 1.7%. Total sales for the period rose 6% to $1.1 billion, from $1.04 billion.

Nashville, Tenn. -- Kirkland's Inc. raised its third-quarter earnings outlook Thursday after total revenue rose because of store expansion.

Total revenue rose 4.7% to $97.1 million in the August-to-October period. Same-store sales fell 3.6%.

The home-decor store said it now expects earnings of 3 cents to 5 cents per share, up from its previous prediction of a quarterly loss.

Seattle -- Starbucks Corp.’s fiscal fourth-quarter profit jumped nearly 29%, beating Wall Street estimates on strong sales around the globe. The company earned $358.5 million in the quarter, up from $278.9 million last year. Revenue rose 7% to $3 billion, with some benefit from foreign exchange rates. Same-store sales increased 9%, with a 10% rise in the United States.

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — OfficeMax announced that it has appointed Jim Barr as EVP and chief digital officer, effective Nov. 14. Barr will report to Ravi Saligram, president and CEO of OfficeMax, and will be responsible for all aspects of the company's e-commerce business and for driving its multi-channel digital strategy.  

Barr has been working with the OfficeMax e-commerce business in an advisory capacity since July 2011 to assess the opportunities for the business and develop a strategy to maximize its potential.  

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale reported net sales of $7.01 billion for the month of October, the four weeks ended Oct. 30, 2011, an increase of 11% from $6.3 billion during the similar four-week period last year.

Total comparable-club sales for the month were up 9%. U.S. comparable-store sales were up 9%, while international comps rose 8%. Excluding the impact of fuel and foreign currencies total comps rose 7%, U.S. comps rose 6% and international comps rose 9%.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Big Lots reported that sales for the third quarter ended Oct. 29 were $1.1 billion, an increase of 6% compared with $1 billion for the third quarter of fiscal 2010. Comparable-store sales increased 1.7% for the third quarter of fiscal 2011.  

NEW YORK — Consumer spending slowed in October, sending a note of caution as retailers head into the holiday season. Eleven retailers missed expectations for same-store sales, while three chains beat estimates, according to a preliminary tally by Thomson Reuters. However, while the October results were not as promising as some retailers had hoped, sales for the most part rose and most chains reported results that were only slightly off from analysts’ estimates. Some analysts blamed Wall Street for underestimating how much caution is still out there.