Data & Analytics

Walmart is touting another e-commerce win by the smart people working at its Silicon Valley research and technology hub known as @WalmartLabs.

Everyone who is anyone will be on hand in New York next week for the nineteenth annual Goldman Sachs Global Retailing Conference so its not surprising that Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon will be in attendance.

Ross Stores and The TJX companies both reported a better-than-expected 8% same store sales increase during August. Shoppers continued to beat a path to Ross and TJX stores during August where exceptionally strong sales suggest consumers are unrelenting in their search for value amid protracted economic weakness.

Target’s second quarter sales increased 3.5% to $16.5 billion and the company’s profits grew 2.9% to $1.06, five cents better than analysts expected.

The company’s second quarter results were negatively affected by pre-opening expenses related to next year’s entry into Canada. Excluding those expenses, Target said its profits would have increased 4.6% to $1.12 compared to $1.07 last year. Including expenses related to Canada, Target increased its full year profit forecast to a range of $4.20 to $4.40 from an earlier guidance range of $4.10 to $4.30.

BURLINGTON, Mass. — New Balance is engaging Demandware to power its new e-commerce sites for its New Balance, Warrior, Cobb Hill, Aravon and Dunham brands. New Balance plans to use Demandware to launch additional sites in new international markets and for other brands, including PF Flyers.

Minneapolis -- Supervalu announced that it is restructuring its executive leadership team to ensure alignment around the company’s goals and to better drive and execute the company’s business turnaround.

July may not be a big month for online shopping, but traffic numbers at Target.com are heading in the wrong direction.

The online audience measurement firm comScore Media Metrix reported that Target.com had approximately 25.8 million unique visitors during July 2012 compared to roughly 26.5 million during July 2011. Despite the decline, on a positive note, Target was ranked 46^{th on the firm’s monthly Top 50 Web Properties report, making it the only traditional retailer beside Walmart to appear on the top 50 list.}

Nashville, Tenn. -- Genesco Inc.'s profit topped estimates for the eighth quarter in a row amid increased store traffic. The company raised its full-year earnings outlook for the second time this year.

Genesco, which operates stores under such banners as Journeys, Lids, Johnston & Murphy and Schuh banners, said its adjusted quarterly profit rose to $12.1 million from $5.2 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue rose 15% to $543.5 million.Same-store sales were up 4%.