Store Systems

If you’ve got a physical shop in the U.S., chances are you’re well acquainted with the upcoming deadline for getting an EMV card reader: October 1, 2015. And you’re probably also very aware that if you don’t have this device and complete all your compliance steps, you’ll be on the hook for all the painful chargebacks and related costs that come with fraudulent credit card transactions.

In today’s news cycle, it’s become somewhat standard fare to read reports of a significant breach in the retail world. From Target to Neiman Marcus, UPS to eBay and even restaurants like P.F. Chang's and Dairy Queen, 2014 resulted in major retail breaches totaling 100 million credit cards and 313 million personal records. But it’s not just the big names that have targets on their backs; as Verizon’s 2015 Data Breach Investigations Report details: “the attack methods are becoming more varied, even against small businesses.”

Oak Brook, Ill. – Increased retail operating expenses, primarily related to store acquisitions and advertising, helped reduce profit at Ace Hardware Corp. during the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Net income totaled $57.5 million, a 13% drop from $66.5 million the same quarter a year earlier.

Consolidated revenues fared better, rising 6% to $86.2 billion from $84.8 billion.

Quincy, Ill. – In the latest sign that beacons are becoming a mainstream in-store technology, at least one independent grocery chain is rolling them out. County Market, a division of Quincy, Illinois-based Niemann Foods, has implemented the Birdzi platform in all of its stores to provide personalized digital savings and increased customer engagement for its shoppers.

Pittsburgh – Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. is partnering with two top brands to open specialty stores-within-a-store at select Dick’s locations. In a conference call with investors, Dick’s CEO Ed Stack said the retailer will pilot stores-within-a-store from Nike Air Jordan and Polo Sport later this year and next year.

Franklin, Tenn. – Although mobile POS software installations by North American retailers grew 41% year-to-year, this rate did not meet expectations of analysts and industry experts. According to a new study from IHL Group, “Mobile POS Software Market Share,” the enterprise market of retailers with more than 50 stores only delivered 59% year-over-year growth, well below the expected 100% increase.

Atlanta – A continuing recovery in the U.S. housing market helped The Home Depot Inc. exceed Wall Street projections for net income and sales during the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Net income rose 9% to $2.23 billion, from $2.05 billion the prior-year period.

Winston-Salem, N.C. - Lowes Foods, a Carolinas-based grocer with locations in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, is feeding consumer appetite for omnichannel experiences. Lowes is working with omnichannel commerce solutions provider Unata to deliver enhanced omnichannel services at its 60 Lowes Foods-To-Go stores.