Data & Analytics

WAYNE, N.J. – With reports of a possible IPO looming and strong quarterly results, Toys"R"Us is poised to dominate the toy sector, which has shown signs of a resurgence and renewed consumer interest, thanks to a number of innovations and must-have items as displayed during the 2011 Toy Fair. 

According to reports, the company is considering the idea of filing for an initial public offering this April, which is expected to raise about $800 million.

NEW YORK — Amid researching its customers' changing media habits, supermarket retailer Supervalu has partnered with a leading provider of digital marketing services and technology to enhance how the grocer reaches customers.

Supervalu said that after conducting a joint study with Nielsen Catalina Solutions, which measured more than 30 million impressions delivered by PointRoll, in-store sales at Supervalu experienced an overall increase during a three-month period, thanks to PointRoll's PaperBoy eCircular, an interactive expandable ad unit.

FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- GE Home & Business Solutions announced that Maryrose Sylvester has been named president and CEO of GE Lighting, a global industry leader in lighting, systems and services for commercial, industrial and residential use. 

Sylvester, who will report to GE Appliances & Lighting president amd CEO James Campbell, succeeds Michael Petras who has led GE Lighting since 2008. Petras is leaving GE to take a position outside of the company. 

DEDHAM, Mass. -- Cabela’s Inc. announced that it has implemented Reflexis Task Manager and StoreWalk to increase efficiency and improve the store-level execution of its retail strategy.

The Reflexis cloud computing solutions enable retailers to streamline corporate-to-store communication, ensure consistent execution of in-store merchandising and promotional plans, and improve compliance with safety and operational policies, according to a press release.

Target is expected to gain about $3 billion in market share during the next few years as the company completes the rollout of its PFresh program, according to Credit Suisse analyst Edward Kelly.

For a company so often on the leading edge of offering its shopper affordable fashions in the apparel and home categories, there is one area where Target has been slow to keep pace with the prevailing trend.

Get used to that headline. Increased sales of food during the coming year are expected to contribute 1.5% to Target’s same-store sales growth as the company continues it aggressive PFresh remodeling program.

Same-store sales in February advanced 1.8%, and the strongest performance came in the grocery category, where comps increased in the low teens while health care, beauty and other household essentials experienced gains in the mid-to-upper single-digit range. Also showing strength was the apparel category where comps increased in the low-to-mid single-digit range.

Philadelphia -- Urban Outfitters reported Monday that net income for the quarter ended Jan. 31 dipped slightly to $75 million, compared with $77 million in the year-ago period.

For the full year, profit rose to $273 million from $220 million a year earlier.

Fourth-quarter net sales rose 14% to $668 million. Same-store sales for the quarter increased 4%. By brand, same-store sales rose 1% at Anthropologie, 28% at Free People and 5% for Urban Outfitters.

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Monday by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates said that import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to be up 11% in March, as compared with the same month last year.

Dedham, Mass. -- Workforce management solution-provider Reflexis Systems said Monday that Sidney, Neb.-based Cabela’s has implemented Reflexis Task Manager and StoreWalk to increase efficiency and improve the store-level execution of its retail strategy.
 
The Reflexis cloud computing solutions, according to the company, enable retailers to streamline corporate-to-store communication, ensure consistent execution of in-store merchandising and promotional plans, and improve compliance with safety and operational policies.