Store Systems

While a Web presence is a prerequisite to doing business in the 21st century, the fact that 77% of consumers are now using tablet computers or smartphones to shop is forcing retailers to rethink their digital strategies, according to a survey from online price comparison engine PriceGrabber. Realizing this is not a decision to be taken lightly, retailers need to take steps to ensure that mobility can be an opportunity, and not a threat, to their business.

By Thierry Costa, [email protected]

DALLAS — Neiman Marcus has named Michael Kingston SVP, CIO of The Neiman Marcus Group. He succeeds Phillip Maxwell, who earlier this month announced his retirement.

Kingston joins The Neiman Marcus Group from Ann Inc., parent company of Ann Taylor, where he was the EVP enterprise transformation and technology. Prior to Ann Inc., Kingston was VP applications at Coach Inc. and international director information services at LVMH.

The retail industry arguably collects more data than other business segments, and this volume doubles every 18 months, making the prospect of “big data” very real. By adopting mobile business intelligence apps, retailers are harnessing this robust data set and putting decision-making in the hands of its front line of defense — store-level associates.

Today’s retail associates have more selling tools at their disposal than ever before — not the least of which is the increasingly popular tablet. The mobile device has taken not only front-of-house selling to new levels but has added efficiencies and enhanced employee productivity to back-of-house functions as well. Chain Store Age talked with Mike Stinson, VP marketing of Motion Computing, about the trend toward tablets.

What are some of the most prevalent uses of tablets in the retail environment?

Dallas -- Neiman Marcus announced that Michael R. Kingston would be joining the company, April 23, as senior VP, CIO of The Neiman Marcus Group. Kingston succeeds Phillip Maxwell, who earlier this month announced his retirement.

Kingston joins Neiman Marcus Group from Ann Inc., parent company of Ann Taylor, where he was the executive VP enterprise transformation and technology.
 

Louisville, Colo. -- Envysion, a leading managed video as a service (MVaaS) provider, announced that Big Lots has selected Envysion as a video service provider and has completed deployment of the Envysion Insight solution to approximately 1,200 of its retail stores.

Big Lots will utilize the Envysion Insight solution to improve loss prevention, operations and training efforts.

Hingham, Mass. -- Talbots Inc.’s fourth-quarter loss widened to $53.2 million for the period ended Jan. 28, not as bad as analysts expected, compared to a loss  of $2.8 million in the year ago. Its results were pressured by restructuring and executive retirement costs, as well as increased mark-downs and promotions. The chain also forecast first-quarter revenue that missed analysts' expectations. Revenue for the quarter slipped 1% to $289.4 million from $292.6 million, but beat Wall Street's estimate of $267.9 million. Same-store sales were flat.