Data & Analytics

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.

NEW YORK — Former Macy’s executive Michelle Bogan is returning to management consulting firm Kurt Salmon, as a partner in its retail and consumer products group.

Bogan develops and implements transformational retail strategies, including omnichannel, consumer analytics and localization, and has provided numerous department stores and specialty retailers around the world with her insights and expertise. At Macy's, she led omnichannel strategy and process development for Macy's and Bloomingdale's.

New York -- Debra Jensen, CIO of Charlotte Russe, will share how this 500-store fashion retailer leverages real-time POS data to make decisions that drive profitable growth in a Chain Store Age Webinar on June 6, at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT).

Hear how SAP HANA-based analytics is providing Charlotte Russe with up-to-the-moment, early indicators of sales velocity, margin and inventory position as well as other key metrics. To register, click here.

DALLAS — Neiman Marcus reported net earnings of $71 million for the third quarter ended April 27, a 13% increase from $63 million in the prior year. 

The company’s total revenues for the quarter were $1.1 billion, a 4% increase from $1.06 billion in the prior year. Comparable revenues increased 4%. 

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. — Kohl’s has renewed its partnership with Junior Achievement of Wisconsin and donated to the organization $1.5 million throughout a three-year period to support and expand the JA Kohl’s Education Center. 

Dallas – Neiman Marcus had a strong third quarter fiscal 2013, reporting a substantial increase in net earnings as well as growth total revenues and same store sales.

Net earnings grew 13% compared to third quarter of last year, from $62.6 million to $70.8 million from $62.6 million.

Total revenues increased 4%, from $1.06 billion to $1.1 billion.

Same store sales grew 3.6%.

Austin, Texas — Kimberly-Clark is looking to RW3 Technologies to help the company optimize its trade promotion investment. K-C will leverage RW3’s mobile technology solutions to keep its brands positioned front and center on shelves.

Topeka, Kan. -- Popular industry wisdom holds that channel alignment is mainly for the benefit of the consumer, who desires a seamless retail experience and does not want have to start from scratch every time they engage with a retailer via a new channel. While this holds true, channel alignment is also a crucial strategic and tactical necessity for back-end operations.