Data & Analytics

In the month of August, there was an overall 2% decline in pages and 5% decline in inserts per market versus 2010.

Lowes was one of the retailers who slowed promotional activity in 2011, by entirely pulling out two weeks of 2-page inserts and by decreasing their page-per-flyer count by an average of 4 pages.

ATLANTA — Canada's importance to the retail industry continues to grow, made evident by the recent news that Office Depot has engaged ShopVisible, a leading provider of on-demand e-commerce, social commerce, and mobile commerce solutions, to launch the retailer’s new Canadian-facing e-commerce site.

Target and the Heart of America Foundation unveiled a completely redesigned library to students, teachers and parents at P.S. 299 Thomas Warren Field School last week in New York. Servicemen and women from local police and fire departments were on hand to help put the finishing touches on the space at an event that honored local heroes – Brooklyn police officers and fire fighters. Target presented one police officer and one fire fighter with a “Hero of the Heart Award,” which will serve as a special tribute to their dedication to service and the community. 

New York City -- Most than a quarter of Americans expect to spend less during the holidays this year, according to a survey by American’s Research Group, Reuters reported.

About 27% of people surveyed said they planned to spend less this year, while about 55% expect to spend only as much as last year. The question was one of several asked exclusively for Reuters as part of a larger America's Research Group survey.

Los Angeles -- CB Richard Ellis Group announced Monday that Grayson Gill has been promoted to COO of the company’s Asset Services business line.  

Gill previously held the title of Senior Managing Director.

In his new role, he will be responsible for the operations of Asset Services in the United States, overseeing all of the business line’s operational departments, including Legal, Employee Relations, Finance, Technology, Procurement, Human Resources, Technical Services, and Client Accounting.

Bensalem, Pa. -- Charming Shoppes’s plus-size Lane Bryant division announced the launch of Fashion Genius, a new technology that provides personalized product recommendation services. According to the retailer, the technology offers one-of-a-kind fit and style solution guides through a simple survey that combines a woman’s curves, fit issues and signature styles to individual merchandise items in just three minutes and with no measurements required.

St. Louis -- Mobile retail and navigation service aisle411 announced that WinCo Foods has deployed the aisle411 platform in its 79 stores.

With the aisle411 App, users can instantly locate products in stores down to the specific section of the aisle, manage shopping lists, share experiences with friends via social media integration, and find mobile coupons.

WinCo operates more than 79 stores and four distribution centers in the states of Washington, Idaho, Nevada, California, Oregon and Utah.
 

By Diane Buzzeo, DianeBuzzeo@abilitycom

CHICAGO — SymphonyIRI Group on Thursday released a brand report highlighting what elements help drive brand selection and brand loyalty.

WESTBOROUGH, Mass. — At a special meeting held Friday, BJ's Wholesale Club stockholders approved the definitive agreement between the company and Leonard Green & Partners and CVC Capital Partners to be acquired in an all-cash transaction valued at about $2.8 billion.

BJ's anticipates the closing of the transaction, which was announced in late June, will occur around the end of the month.