Data & Analytics

Membership upgrade activity at Sam’s Club could see some improvement in the months ahead if a new software program lives up to its billing. Sam’s Club said it will use DemandTec’s Deal Management software service to enhance its eValues program, which provides members at the $100 Plus level with customized savings offers. Sam’s created the program to added value to its premium membership level and encourage upgrade activity.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Family Dollar opened its 7,000th store Thursday, further cementing the dollar-store channel as an area of rapid growth.

The store is located in Memphis, Tenn., and features a green building design and a spacious layout for an optimal shopping experience, the company reported. 

To commemorate the opening of its 7,000th store in Memphis, Family Dollar completed the celebration with the $7,000 donation to the Mid-South Food Bank, along with cans of food donated by members of the local community. 

Armonk, N.Y. -- IBM announced that S&S Worldwide grew recommendation sales 75% in just three months with IBM Smarter Commerce software in the cloud.  S&S is a national distributor of sporting goods products for recreation, health care, and education professionals and is using IBM software to drive personalized product recommendation sales via its Web sites.

Wayne, N.J. -- Toys “R” Us said Thursday it has completed a 5.38 megawatt rooftop solar power system at the company’s largest distribution center in Flanders, N.J.

The solar roof is estimated to offset 72% of the electrical needs for the Toys “R” Us facility, making it the largest operational rooftop solar installation in North America.

WASHINGTON — Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have announced a $3 million initiative designed to help D.C. residents get the skills and training they need to gain employment. The program will offer literacy, customer service and retail training to 2,000 District residents.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Parents will spend more on apparel for this school year versus last year, a new survey from Sears and BlogHer, a network of women social media leaders, revealed. 

Cincinnati -- Macy's reported a whopping 63.9% increase in its second-quarter profit, beating Wall Street estimates. The department store chain is also raising its full-year profit outlook.

Chairman and CEO Terry J. Lundgren described the quarter as "the most successful second quarter and spring season in more than a decade," adding that it came on top of an impressive first half performance last year.

By William F. Hauswirth, president of IntelliCorp

You review the resume, conduct the interview, pick the perfect candidate, and make a job offer. Now you have the person start immediately, right? Wrong. What you don’t know about a job applicant can hurt you. It’s not good business practice to hire just anyone who walks through your door. You need to know who they are, and their history. Don’t be a victim of deceit by simply looking at a resume or take someone’s word that they are honest and qualified.