Data & Analytics

New York -- Specialty retailer Vera Bradley has helped boost the revenue and margins generated by its recently launched line of baby accessories by obtaining advance insight from consumers about what they would pay for certain products and also what features most interested them.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens on Wednesday posted third-quarter sales of $18.3 billion, up 3.3%.

Same-store sales were up 1.3%, with front-end comparable store sales up by 0.3% and pharmacy comp sales up 2%. Prescriptions filled were up 7% for the quarter.

Walgreens reported that more than 72 million Walgreens faithful have signed on for the company's Balance Rewards loyalty program through May.

Armonk, N.Y. -- IBM on Tuesday strengthened its position in the fast-growing market for cloud-computing services with the news that it has entered into an agreement to acquire SoftLayer Technologies Inc. The Dallas-based firm is the world's largest privately held cloud computing infrastructure provider, according to IBM.

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. But reports, including one by the New York Times, valued it at approximately $2 billion,

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Dollar General reported record sales, operating profit and net income for the first quarter ended May 3, thanks to strong growth in its consumables categories.

Chatsworth, Calif. -- Provision Interactive Technologies has entered into a multi-year partnership with Rite Aid Corp. to install Provision’s 3D Reward Centers kiosks inside select Rite Aid stores. The kiosks will generate 3D holographic videos as well as exclusive wellness+ information and Rite Aid promotions.

New York -- Following a two-year search, Foot Locker has moved one of its Manhattan locations from 541 Broadway to 440 Broadway in SoHo one block north of Canal Street, according to ABS Partners Real Estate.

ABS Partners negotiated a 10-year net lease on behalf of Foot Locker for a 9,000-sq.-ft. two-story building plus a lower level.

NEW YORK — Sociomantic Labs, digital advertising solutions provider for e-commerce marketers, has hired Charles Pitzer as the company’s VP of sales for North America.  

Pitzer has more than 25 years of sales experience, 14 of which have been concentrated in media with a focus on online advertising. He joins Sociomantic from Criteo. Previously Pitzer held positions at Specific Media, Advertising.com and IDG Communications.

By Kevin Kiziah, asd-usa.com

Technology upgrades and new technology installations are a necessary part of business for chain stores, but updating or installing technology at multiple sites can be an overwhelming undertaking. Technology rollouts are especially intimidating for chain stores with hundreds, or even thousands, of locations spread across a wide geographic area.