News

ARTS announces significant updates to data model standards
Washington -- The Association for Retail Technology Standards, a division of the National Retail Federation, on Monday announced the approval of the ARTS Operational Data Model version 7.0, and the ARTS Data Warehouse Model 3.0.
Barnes & Noble enlists Sigourney Weaver to sell books
At a time when physical books are becoming an alien concept for younger consumer, Barnes & Noble has introduced a new ad campaign that positions books as, “a gift like no other.”

Moody’s forecasts 4- to 5% sales increase in 2015

New York -- The outlook for the U.S. retail industry in 2015 is stable, according to a new report by Moody’s Investor Service, which forecasts that retail sales will grow 3- to 4% in 2014, and 4- to 5% in 2015. The report, Moody’s U.S. Retail Industry Outlook, also finds that traditional brick-and-mortar retailers will be formidable competitors to pure-play online merchants.
Men’s Wearhouse designer adds dot com presence

The Joseph Abboud brand has launched an exclusive new collection at JosephAbbound.com and in early 2015 the brand plans to open its first physical store thanks to parent company Men’s Wearhouse.
Aaron’s names head of Progressive Leasing unit as new CEO

Atlanta -- Aaron's announced today that John W. Robinson III, executive VP of Aaron's and CEO of its Progressive Leasing unit, has been named CEO of Aaron's, effective Monday, Nov. 10, 2014.
Are you talking to me?

Recently, I participated in a strategic conference that included several sessions on how to effectively use advertising and promotion to reach moms, millennials, multiculturals and other shopper segments. Not surprisingly, significant emphasis was placed on the use of emerging digital and mobile media. But each session also reinforced that traditional media including television, radio, retail feature ads, and Free Standing Insert (FSI) coupons should not be undervalued.
TechBytes: Three Ways SAP Bilt Enhances Customer Experience

About a year ago, I wrote a TechBytes column about a concept app called “Snap", which SAP had developed to provide consumers with interactive instructions for assembling products at home. After some fine-tuning, SAP is now officially launching a DIY home assembly app called “Bilt” for Android and iOS tablet devices.
If the app fits, wear it

Stride has developed a new app called RiteFit that allows an iPad to be used as a device to accurately determine a child’s shoe size.
RetailNext names IBM exec as chief marketing officer

San Jose, Calif. -- RetailNext Inc., a leader in applied Big Data for physical retail, named Marc Dietz as its chief marketing officer. Dietz comes to RetailNext most recently from IBM where he led worldwide marketing for the company’s SaaS portfolio, including multiple acquisitions such as DemandTec, Coremetrics, and Silverpop.
Women in Factories training funded by Walmart

The Walmart Foundation increased to $10 million its investment in an educational program on track to provide training to 60,000 women in 150 factories.

The increased funding commitment to the Women in Factories program begun in 2011 was announced in Beijing by Scott Price, CEO of Walmart Asia at the 2014 APEC CEO Summit. The Women in Factories program has already provided training to 40,000 female factory workers and by the end of 2016 the figure is expected to increase to 60,000 women at factories in India, Bangladesh, China, El Salvador, and Honduras.