Data & Analytics

NEW YORK - The retail industry descended upon the Javitz Center in New York City this week for the National Retail Federation’s 100th Big Show, and despite the tough economy, the general mood of the show was one of optimism and excitement. 

Addressing the packed auditorium before Monday’s super sessions, NRF president and CEO Matt Shay said. “There are very few organizations that enjoy the stature of retail, very few businesses that contribute more to the local economy.”

By Rudy Pataro,  rpataro@fry.com

San Francisco -- Women’s active lifestyle brand Athleta has opened its first full-scale retail location, on Fillmore Street in San Francisco. Athleta was acquired by Gap in 2008

“This store opening launches the next phase of our multichannel growth plan for the Athleta brand,” said Toby Lenk, president of Gap. Direct, the division which houses the Athleta brand. “What began as a catalog business 12 years ago, evolved into a successful online channel, and today marks another milestone for the Athleta brand.”

Retailers at NRF’s convention this week got a citing of Bill Fields, a former Walmart executive who spent 25 years with the company serving in various roles from 1971 to 1996. Today Fields is chairman of a group called China Horizon, a joint venture with the Chinese postal service charged with helping to develop retail and consumption in rural China, and it was the topic of China that Fields addressed during the super session: “Making the retail business dynamic,” sponsored by Microsoft.

New York City -- Microsoft Corp. announced that Bill Gonzalez, general manager of its worldwide distribution and services sector, has been elected to the associate member advisory council for the board of directors of the National Retail Federation. The announcement was made at the NRF Annual Convention & EXPO in New York.

San Francisco -- Williams-Sonoma's strong holiday sales performance prompted the home-products retailer to lift its fourth-quarter and full-year earnings and revenue forecasts on Thursday.

Revenue climbed 10.5% to $865 million for the eight-week holiday period ending Dec. 26, 2010. Same-store sales rose 5%.

New York City -- An overwhelming majority (86%) of small-business respondents (86%) say that keeping their customer card information secure and feel payment-card data security is important to their business. But 60% are unaware of the costs they could incur in the event of a breach. Those are among the results of a research study of data security and fraud-prevention strategies practiced at small- to mid-sized retailers. The study is from the National Retail Federation and First Data Corp.

New York City -- Crabtree & Evelyn has retained 89 Degrees to assist the retailer in developing a wide range of digital and direct marketing programs.