Data & Analytics

ATLANTA — OfficeMax is using RedPrairie Corp.'s Enterprise Workforce Management tool to boost labor efficiencies and manage costs enterprise-wide across its supply chain and retail stores, RedPrairie announced in a company press release.

RedPrairie’s Enterprise Workforce Management solution enables retailers to manage their workforce holistically addressing time and attendance, forecasting, scheduling, labor standards, execution management and learning management, according to the company. 

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Winn-Dixie Stores reported Monday a loss of $24.1 million in the fiscal first quarter, compared with a loss of $76.8 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue rose 3.1% to $1.59 billion, from $1.54 billion last year, helped by success from its gas-related reward program. Sales just missed Wall Street’s expected $1.6 billion in revenue.

Same-store sales rose 3.3%. During the quarter, the company opened two additional transformational remodeled stores that Winn-Dixie continues to monitor for additional roll-out.

Chicago -- True Value Co. reported Tuesday that profit for the third quarter increased 3.4% to $18.1 million, compared with $17.5 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue rose 3.6% to $445.7 million, from $430.2 million.

According to the cooperative, 788,000 sq. ft. of retail space has been covered to its recommended Destination True Value prototype so far this fiscal year, up 13.5 % from 694,000 sq. ft. last year.
 

Chicago -- A report released Tuesday by retail foot traffic counter ShopperTrak identified the 10 holiday shopping days that will make or break the period for retailers.

“Since Christmas falls on different calendar days each year, the shift impacts which days are the busiest,” said ShopperTrak co-founder Bill Martin. “Some change in ranking or drop off completely.”

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Retail Inflation, a strong fuelperks! rewards program and increased sales at remodeled stores helped grow identical-store sales at Winn-Dixie Stores by 3.3% during the first quarter of fiscal 2012. This increase was also aided by a 5.5% increase in basket size, but partially offset by a 2.1% decrease in transaction count. The company announced that net sales for the first quarter were $1.6 billion, an increase of $48.2 million or 3.1% compared with the same period in the prior fiscal year. 

By Chris Blees, amaaonline.com

It has been proven in past economic downturns that companies that invest heavily in the right kinds of marketing and strategic planning are the ones that will capitalize the most on the situation and likely thrive when the market turns around.

New York City -- Walmart is scaling back from its round-the-clock, 24-hour operating schedule at select U.S. locations, according to USA Today.

The decision on whether to keep stores open 24 hours is a store-to-store decision, the report said, and does not mean the chain as a whole is retreating from its 24-hour format.

Click here to read the full story.

New York City -- Walmart will open its first store in the United States that utilizes all-LED lighting on the interior. The store, a Walmart Neighborhood Market, is located at 2111 N. Amidon, Wichita, Kan. It will open on Nov. 2.

The company said it expects to see a 40% savings on the energy-efficient lights, which also last at least six years beyond conventional lighting, reducing maintenance costs.