Data & Analytics

Toronto, Ontario – More than four-in-10 (44%) Canadian back-to-school shoppers want more online options. A new survey from Staples Canada, the Staples Back-to-School Annual Study, also indicates that 70% of Canadian back-to-school shoppers consider a back-to-school budget important.

The survey also uncovered a number of regional differences in back-to-school preferences, such as:

Irvine, Calif. -- Photo-sharing site Socialbliss is launching a new social commerce platform called Marketplace. The Socialbliss Marketplace gives users the ability to list their own items for sale and link those pieces to inspiration images already existing on the site. This allows a viral conversation to begin which can lead to an item being sold.

Listing is free and backed by a 20% commission fee structure. Globally shoppable inventory on Socialbliss has hit $4.8 million.

Reports from Canada have Best Buy dabbling in e-commerce sales of beauty products. Best Buy Canada is now offering a selection of personal care, baby and health and wellness products on its “Viva from Best Buy” website, accessible through BestBuy.ca’s homepage.

New York -- Guitar Center has named Christopher Ian Bennett as the company's first-ever VP communications and corporate affairs.

In his previous role, Bennett led Best Buy Canada's corporate communications department under Mike Pratt, who is Guitar Center's new CEO.

In his new role, Bennett will be responsible for the overall internal and external communications strategy of Guitar Center and affiliated brands, and will be charged with driving a clear and singular message.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Clorox sales results for the fourth quarter ended June 30 increased slightly, but despite being lower than anticipated, the company is ready to take on competitive pressures and increase its merchandising activity.

Scanbuy, Inc. released a quarterly trend report showing continued rapid growth of QR code and UPC mobile barcode scanning traffic. The report shows more than 21 million scans processed in the second quarter of 2013 — good news for retailers who are upgrading their mobile capabilities.

Surging home prices and 401K balances have millions of Americans feeling better about their personal balance sheets and the state of the economy, but Walmart’s core shoppers remain under duress and that could spell trouble for second quarter sales.
 

Parkesburg, Pa. — CVS/Pharmacy recently opened a 7,940-sq.-ft. store at the Parkesburg Shopping Center in Parkesburg, Pa. CVS purchased the business of the location’s previous occupant, Longenecker Pharmacy, an independent, family-owned chain.

The 56,652-sq.-ft. development is exclusively leased and managed by Levin management www.levinmgt.com. The center serves a population of more than 34,600 people within a five-mile radius. Average household income is more than $67,500. Daily traffic count is about 23,800 vehicles.