Data & Analytics

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — HSN announced that it has launched a new campaign inviting customers to determine what products are featured in its new specialty More to Like" online store, found at HSN.com/like. Products are determined based on "likes" on the HSN.com, HSN Mobile or HSN's Facebook page.

St. Louis -- Dollar General has signed a multi-year contract with Interface to provide secure managed cloud services to the retailer’s 9,5000 plus stores that will improve operations, and increase the security of customer and employee data, while providing significant reductions in operating expenses.

Under the agreement, Dollar General will use Interface’s managed cloud services for its entire retail store network.

By William F. Hauswirth, president of IntelliCorp

You review the resume, conduct the interview, pick the perfect candidate, and make a job offer. Now you have the person start immediately, right? Wrong. What you don’t know about a job applicant can hurt you. It’s not good business practice to hire just anyone who walks through your door. You need to know who they are, and their history. Don’t be a victim of deceit by simply looking at a resume or take someone’s word that they are honest and qualified.

San Francisco -- Gap will open two Athleta store this week in Manhattan’s Upper East and Upper West side neighborhoods. The openings mark the women’s active wear brand’s entry into the East Coast market, and support Athleta’s plan to open up to 50 stores by 2013.

“Entering New York is a significant milestone for us as we aim to grow our share of the $31 billion women’s active wear market,” said Scott Key, senior vice president and general manager of Athleta.

Satellite Beach, Fla. -- General Nutrition Centers has installed high performance, energy efficient LED bulbs from Lighting Science Group bulbs at select corporate-owned locations.

The Energy Star-approved LEDs are 80% more efficient than the halogen bulbs they replaced, are fully dimmable and have about 50% light output than competing products, according to the company.

Cincinnati -- Macy's reported a whopping 63.9% increase in its second-quarter profit, beating Wall Street estimates. The department store chain is also raising its full-year profit outlook.

Chairman and CEO Terry J. Lundgren described the quarter as "the most successful second quarter and spring season in more than a decade," adding that it came on top of an impressive first half performance last year.

CITY OF COMMERCE, Calif. — 99 Cents Only Stores reported that its consolidated net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 was $17.7 million, or 25 cents per diluted share, compared with $16.8 million, or 24 cents per diluted share, for the prior year.

RESTON, Va. — Online U.S. retail spending in second quarter 2011 reached $37.5 billion for the quarter, up 14% versus year ago, comScore reported Monday. This growth rate represented the seventh consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth and third consecutive quarter of double-digit growth rates.

TAMPA, Fla.— Winn-Dixie Stores announced that beginning Tuesday, guests using the new Winn-Dixie Customer Reward Card (CRC) at any of the grocer’s 95 stores in the Tampa/St. Petersburg, Tallahassee, Gainesville, Fla., Albany and Columbus, Ga. areas, can earn significant fuel discounts at participating Shell stations. The savings are part of Winn-Dixie’s fuelperks! Rewards Program.

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Tuesday by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates showed that import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports dropped below last year, but are expected to see year-over-year gains again this fall.

According to the monthly Global Port Tracker report, volumes will stay below last year through the summer, but will edge up as retailers begin to stock up for the holiday season.