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The NRF forecasts a 3.1% increase in retail sales growth in 2016, which will exceed the 10 year industry average of 2.7%. The National Retail Federation also forecasts ecommerce growth to be between 6-9%. The NRF makes this forecast based on assumptions on employment gains. It believes that prospects for consumer spending are going to... Read more »

by Chad Symens Lowe’s acquisition of Rona could be game changer for the home improvement market. Home Depot has 2,273 stores with 182 located in Canada. Before the Rona acquisition, Lowes had 1,840 stores including Orchard Supply stores. The Rona acquisition will add 496 stores to Lowe’s portfolio which means that once it’s finalized, Lowe’s... Read more »

In a new report titled “How We Shop Now: What’s Next?,” Westfield London has unveiled five key trends that they believe will shape the retail industry of tomorrow. Combined, the trends paint a picture of what the store of the future is likely to look like, and the report reveals that customers will be looking... Read more »

On Wednesday, home improvement retailer Lowe’s made a $2.3 billion bid for Quebec-based home-improvement chain Rona. The deal comes 4 years after an attempted hostile acquisition that faced opposition from major political parties. Initial indications point to a friendly deal this time around with approval from the Rona board of directors. “One of the big... Read more »

Retail veterans Ronny Shmoel and Albert Liniado are bringing back Circuit City, once the number one big-box tech chain in the marketplace before filing for bankruptcy in 2008. Their ambitious plan includes retail outlets, web sales, branded and private-label products, licensed kiosks, mobile shops and franchise opportunities, all under the iconic red and white banner.... Read more »

>After the market’s close on Thursday, Amazon.com Inc. reported fourth quarter earnings that missed expectations and the company’s stock plunged 13%. Wall Street analysts were forecasting record revenue of $35.9 billion for the company. Amazon did hit a new revenue record, but it missed expectations with sales of $35.7 billion. That’s despite successes that were... Read more »

In its report series “Taking Stock of CPG Past and Future: Gear Up Now for a Year of Growth“, IRI reflects on the lessons learned in 2015 and provides insight into several key trends that will drive growth in 2016. Growth is still a significant challenge for the CPG Industry. Faced with conservative shopper behaviors... Read more »

The first winter storm of 2016 slammed the Northeast and Mid Atlantic last Friday and Saturday leaving much of the area paralyzed. Despite warmer temperatures early this week, many areas are still recovering and some schools and businesses remain closed as local governments and residents dig out from up to 2 ½ feet of snow... Read more »

The NRF’s Big Show wrapped up on Wednesday after record attendance, and, as we unwind from an exciting week in New York, we find ourselves reflecting on the event as a whole and on the key takeaways that will impact Accelerated Analytics in 2016. Matt Shay, President and CEO of the National Retail Federation, opened... Read more »