Data & Analytics

More than 2,800 Walmart locations now feature Jackson Hewitt brand tax preparation services and the opportunity to drive big ticket sales once shoppers get their hands on refund checks.

New York -- As cash-strapped consumers curtailed holiday spending, department store retailers felt the pinch and some performed better than others in an uncertain environment. The strongest performances were turned in by Macy’s and Nordstrom, both topping estimates.

Overall, analysts looked for 3.3% same-store sales growth for December across 17 chains, down from 4.2% growth in December 2011, according to Thomson Reuters.
     

CHICAGO — The Hillshire Brands has appointed former Kraft executive Brian Davison as SVP of corporate strategy and development.

Davison will be responsible for acquisition, merger and divestiture activities, strategic planning and implementing high impact projects. He joined the company on January 2, and will report to Sean Connolly, CEO.

Brisbane, Calif. -- Bebe Stores Inc. reported Thursday that sales for the second quarter plunged 11.7% to $124.6 million, from $141.1 million last year.

Same-store sales plummeted 10.5%, and the women’s apparel retailer now says it expects its second quarter net loss will be larger than previously estimated.
 
Foot traffic fell 15% in the second quarter, which caused inventory per sq. ft. to jump 27.5%.

WATSONVILLE, Calif. — EVP and president of Nordstrom Direct Jamie Nordstrom has joined West Marine's board of directors. Nordstrom also was appointed as the fourth member of West Marine's governance and compensation committee.

His board and committee service is expected to begin on the first meeting scheduled in 2013, most likely in March, and Nordstrom, like all the other directors, will stand for re-election to the board at West Marine's 2013 annual meeting of stockholders.

SEATTLE — Amazon contends that 2012 was a record-breaking holiday season for businesses selling on its popular online Webstore platform.

Amazon reports that more than two million third-party sellers worldwide experienced record holiday growth, and unit growth solely from sellers in the U.S. increased more than 40% year-over-year. For the year, sellers on Amazon sold hundreds of millions of units worth tens of billions of dollars worldwide, according to the company, which did not provide an actual sales figure.

Long Beach, Calif. -- Epson America announced that Barry Wise, a long-time Epson consultant and retail industry leader, passed away on December 28, 2012.

"Barry was a one-of-a kind visionary who made an indelible mark in the retail technology industry," said Mike Helm, director of sales for Epson's business systems division and long time colleague of Wise. "Barry was passionate and insightful about how technology could make a difference to retailers. Epson has lost a dear friend and a valuable partner.

An annual holiday e-retail satisfaction report produced by analytic's firm ForeSee showed considerable improvement at Target this year following a challenging 2011.

Amazon.com, LLBean.com and QVC.com were the top three retailers on ForeSee’s Annual Holiday E-Retail Satisfaction survey while Target was in the upper one third of companies analyzed.