Data & Analytics

Niagara, Ontario -- Niagara’s largest shopping center has launched a $13 million renovation featuring an environmentally- and shopper-friendly redesign inspired by Niagara’s vineyards, parks, gardens and trails.

“The design focus of the renovation will meet the Canada Green Building Council LEED-CI designation,” said Pen Centre manager John Bragagnolo. “Our aim is to ensure that the shopping center provides the best shopping experience with the least environmental impact possible.”

New York City -- The Home Depot has streamlined its in-store hiring process by centralizing it at the corporate level, making the process more uniform across the chain. Potential store hires now go through two reviews at the corporate level before they are even granted an in-person store interview, The Atlanta-Journal Constitution reported.

To read the full story, go to ajc.com/business/home-depot-centralizes-in-867327.html

Bentonville, Ark. -- Walmart announced the deployment of five rooftop solar arrays for Walmart and Sam’s Club locations in Puerto Rico. The solar program is made possible through a solar energy service agreement where Sun Edison, a subsidiary of MEMC Electronic Materials, will design, deploy, operate and maintain over three megawatts of solar technologies across the five locations with no upfront costs to Walmart.

Needham, Mass. -- PTC announced that Chico’s FAS has selected PTC Windchill FlexPLM product lifecycle management software to harmonize operations across category, brand, and departments.

By choosing Windchill FlexPLM across all of its brands, including Chico’s, White House|Black Market and Soma Intimates, the company is demonstrating a commitment to increase operational and inventory efficiency and reduce development time and production cost.

Dallas -- Transplace, a provider of transportation management services and logistics technology, today announced the continuation of its relationship with Anna’s Linens through a full contract expansion. The value-priced home-furnishings retailer will continue to leverage Transplace’s managed services solution and logistics technology for all domestic transportation management activities.

Toronto -- Opterus, a provider of web-based task management and store communications, announced that In the Pink Stores has chosen Opterus Store Ops-Center for improved communications and store execution management.

With most of their stores located at remote resort communities in New England, In the Pink’s unique business model incorporates a short-selling season with extremely high peak weeks, and some are only open part of the year. 

Los Angeles -- Guess said Wednesday that its fourth-quarter net income rose 19% on a boost in sales in Europe, Asia and North America.

Guess said it earned $103.3 million, compared with profit of $86.6 million, or 93 cents per share, during the same period a year prior.

Revenue rose 18% to $756.9 million from $642 million. The results beat the expectations of analysts.

New York City -- The Labor Department’s Producer Price Index rose last month, primarily due to higher energy costs and the biggest rise in food prices in 36 years, USA Today reported.

Food prices rose 3.9% last month, the highest increase since November 1974.

The steep rise was due, in large part, to higher vegetable costs, which were up nearly 50%.

Charlotte, N.C. -- Cato Corp.'s fiscal fourth-quarter net income climbed 8% as revenue improved. The company earned $7.9 million, compared with $7.3 million a year earlier.

Sales for the quarter ended January 29, 2011 were $224.3 million, a 3% increase over sales of $217.7 in the year-ago period. Same-store sales increased 1%.

By Jeff Green