Video: PriceStrat Benefits at Raley's

Joel Barton, formerly of Raley's supermarkets, shared his perspective on using KSS Retail for Price Optimization in this video short. He calls PriceStrat, "one of the best software investments we've made in the past 10 years."



He explains why competitive pressures dictate that grocers make decisions using predictive modeling and optimization.

Says Barton, "We needed to be able to look at the hundreds of thousands of lines of data that we have and say what is the right price ... versus the big box or against that national chain with a few 1,000 stores?"

PriceStrat brought Raley's category managers and analysts additional intelligence that enables good decisions, he adds.

"The consumers see the benefit because they see a fair price... I get a great price image. I also get some dollars in the bank."

© Copyright 2010, KSS Retail

O'Reilly Selects KSS Retail

O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: ORLY), Springfield, MO, has selected KSS Retail solutions for price modeling, optimization, and market basket customer analytics.

O'Reilly is the third largest auto parts chain in the U.S., with 3,469 stores spread over 38 states generating $4.8 billion sales in 2009. In addition to its flagship brand, it operates auto parts stores under the CSK, Checker, Schuck's, Kragen and Murray's banners.

The chain selected KSS Retail's PriceStrat to improve its ability to forecast optimum pricing and promotions. O'Reilly desires to enhance its strong competitive position and continue to deliver strong customer value.

Read more at KSS Retail.com.
Full press release on BusinessWire.com.

© Copyright 2010, KSS Retail

Video: Price Optimization - A Retailer's POV

Charles Owen, Executive Director of Marketing Technology at Ball's Supermarkets, discusses his experience using price and promotion optimization from KSS Retail.



"Grocers need to understand that they have to do business in a different manner," says Owen, "because their big competitors are doing business in a different manner."

Ball's has used KSS Retail to optimize 63 categories, scoring increased sales, profits and margins in all but two. It helps with selecting the right items for Ball's adds and accurately predicting sales movement.

The result, he says, has been a three-year track record of "seven-figure impact" on the bottom line.

"This product will pay for itself almost immediately," Owen says.

© Copyright 2010, KSS Retail

BI-LO Puts Emphasis on Promotion

BI LO supermarkets recently switched from DemandTec to KSS Retail, and the key stated reason was its desire to model not just regular retail pricing, but promotions as well.

It’s fair to say that while most retailers spend a large amount of their time on the preparation of weekly ads and promotions, the retail prices for these promotions are still based on historical precedence and gut feel.

The next wave of “wins” with price optimization will no doubt be from using the tool as BI LO is to determine the best promotional pricing. KSS Retail is unique in this area since its tool integrates regular and promotional pricing in a unified platform.

Read more about BI LO's decision.

© Copyright 2010, KSS Retail

Welcome to Our World

KSS Retail is pleased to introduce our corporate blog, The Optimized Merchant.

It's our way of keeping you informed about our initiatives and our clients' success stories.

Over the coming weeks and months you may expect to hear from our company thought leaders and clients about the new wave of optimization science in retail. We look forward to your comments and queries.

© Copyright 2010, KSS Retail