Providing a web-based system and online portal featuring online non-downloadable software applications that enable users to derive retail intelligence from collected data; Application service provider (ASP) featuring software for use in retail intelligence; Providing a web-based system and online portal featuring online non-downloadable software for retail intelligence and for providing and analyzing content including data mining, data parsing, competitive activities, promotional analysis, competitive pricing, product linking, retail execution, distribution, exception reporting as it relates to the consumer shopping experience