Thu.Jul 25, 2024

article thumbnail

Exclusive: Automated Voice Agents are Hurting Customer Retention

Retail TouchPoints

Everyone’s been there — you try your mightiest to get the machine on the other end of the phone to understand what you need, until you give in to frustration and just begin to scream “representative.” Generative AI was supposed to change all that — with this magical new technology, automated voice agents were going to be smarter, more responsive and, most importantly, more accurate.

article thumbnail

Online Retailer day two: Implementing GenAI and ‘messy’ innovation

Inside Retail

Out-of-the-box thinking and camaraderie were the hot topics on day two of the Online Retailer conference in Sydney which had the attention of the industry’s leading suppliers and retailers. The keynotes on day two of the Online Retailer conference centred on innovation to optimise customer service, sustainability and business operations within the retail industry.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Level Up Your Retail Loyalty Strategy with Smart Gamification

Retail TouchPoints

As the retail landscape has become increasingly digital, gamification has evolved from a cool trend to a proven strategy. In fact, a 2023 report estimated the size of the gamification market as more than $10 billion, with the retail industry accounting for nearly a third of that market. It’s clear: Gamification is redefining how retailers engage with customers by making every interaction fun and rewarding.

article thumbnail

Kering reports profits ‘lower than expected’ as Gucci sales decline

Inside Retail

Luxury conglomerate Kering has reported profits “lower than expected” after its revenue dropped 11 per cent to US$10.6 billion in the half-year financial results. The group’s sales decline is largely attributed to poor performance at Gucci , which accounts for almost half of its sales and two-thirds of its profits. Gucci’s revenue declined by 20 per cent to $4.8 billion, down 18 per cent compared to the previous period.

Wholesale 242
article thumbnail

Is Your Business AI-Ready? Find Out with Orium’s Maturity Model

Generative AI is poised to redefine B2B, but scaling AI success in this space isn’t without obstacles. From fragmented data sources and complex buyer journeys to operational inefficiencies, the road to AI-powered growth can be challenging. To achieve a competitive edge, understanding your organization’s AI-readiness is essential. Orium's Data & AI Maturity Model provides a quick, actionable way to assess your starting point.

article thumbnail

‘You Sunk My Battleship!’: Toys ‘R’ Us Shops to Open at Navy Exchange Stores

Retail TouchPoints

WHP Global has licensed Toys ‘R’ Us shops for two Navy Exchange Service Command ( NEXCOM ) stores, with plans for additional locations in 2025. The shop-in-shops will launch this fall at NEX Oceana in Virginia Beach, Va., followed by the NEX in Jacksonville, Fla. “To better serve our deserving patrons, this launch and newest venture in the toy retail industry is incredibly exciting for our global NEX team,” said Richard Honiball, EVP, Global Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer at NEXCOM in

Shopping 278
article thumbnail

Conn’s HomePlus Files for Bankruptcy After 134 Years

Retail Wire

Conn's HomePlus has announced that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and will be closing nearly half of its 170 nationwide stores.

259
259

More Trending

article thumbnail

Flamin’ Hot Cheetos ‘Inventor’ Is Suing Frito-Lay. Here’s Why

Retail Wire

The Flamin' Hot Cheetos "inventor" says there's a "smear campaign" against him.

278
278
article thumbnail

Sam’s Club Brings Advertising to App-Based Scan & Go Checkout Experience

Retail TouchPoints

The Sam’s Club Member Access Platform (MAP) , the retailer’s media network, is launching display ads in the Scan & Go mobile checkout experience, with the aim of reaching consumers closer to their point of decision. Scan & Go, part of the Sam’s Club app, allows members to use their mobile devices to scan items as they shop in-club, complete payment and skip the checkout line entirely.

Checkout 264
article thumbnail

Albertsons and Kroger Pause Merger

Retail Wire

Albertsons and Kroger have been in talks to merge since October 2022, however, the deal has faced many challenges.

article thumbnail

Michaels Expands Delivery Options via DoorDash and Uber Eats

Retail TouchPoints

Michaels will expand same-day delivery from its 1,200+ stores through new partnerships with DoorDash and Uber Eats. The arts and crafts retailer has offered same-day delivery via Instacart since April 2021. Additionally, Save a Lot now has 400 of its supermarkets live on the DoorDash Marketplace, offering deliveries in under one hour, on average. The retailer plans to support SNAP/EBT payment capabilities on DoorDash later this year for on-demand delivery of SNAP-eligible groceries.

article thumbnail

Less Stress, More Success: Accounting Best Practices & Processes for 2025

Speaker: Amanda Adams, Fractional CFO, CPA

Are you ready to elevate your accounting processes for 2025? 🚀 Join us for an exclusive webinar led by Amanda Adams, a seasoned fractional CFO and CPA passionate about transforming back-office operations for finance teams. This session will cover critical best practices and process improvements tailored specifically for accounting professionals.

article thumbnail

Stellantis CEO Warns Money-Losing Brands Will Be Axed 

Retail Wire

The statement comes as the company moves to fix weak margins and high inventory at its U.S. operations.

ATS 264
article thumbnail

Embracing omnichannel commerce with a unified payments partner

Inside Retail

In today’s dynamic retail landscape, consumer expectations are evolving rapidly. Customers no longer distinguish between online and offline shopping; they demand a seamless, integrated experience across all channels. This shift towards omnichannel commerce is not just a trend but a necessity for retailers aiming to stay competitive and meet the demands of today’s shoppers.

article thumbnail

Stock Market Is Seeing Various Fluctuations

Retail Wire

The stock market has taken a huge hit in various areas, negatively affecting the prices of shares across industries.

Marketing 242
article thumbnail

Fashion leaders seek to raise $1 million to rescue Silver Fleece

Inside Retail

Fashion leaders have come together to raise $1 million by Tuesday to rescue Adelaide-based Silver Fleece knitting mill and its staff from liquidation. Sunset Lover founders Melanie and Dean Flintoft are leading the initiative to revive the 73-year-old mill, with its operations and staff ready to resume as soon as possible, following its collapse into administration last month. “These contracts have the mill operating at 50 per cent of its overall capacity, so the potential for expansion is

Fashion 147
article thumbnail

Is Your Brand AI-Ready? Find Out with Orium’s Maturity Model

Generative AI is reshaping retail, but achieving true AI success isn’t simple. Many brands face hurdles—underdeveloped data strategies, limited AI-ready infrastructure, or lack of seamless integration across systems. As you explore how AI can boost efficiency and transform customer experiences, understanding your business’s readiness is key. Orium's Data & AI Maturity Model offers a clear starting point.

article thumbnail

John Deere Layoffs: All the Details

Retail Wire

John Deere has announced the beginning of its planned layoffs.

Planning 264
article thumbnail

Why retailers shouldn’t ditch their data strategy after Google’s cookie reversal

Inside Retail

Google’s announcement on Monday that it will not phase out third-party cookies, as it first said it would do in 2020, has been reported as a win for advertisers, including retailers, who use cookies to track individuals on the internet, in part to personalise their offers and other communications. Instead of eliminating third-party cookies in its Chrome browser, Google will now enable users to turn cookies on or off in their privacy settings.

article thumbnail

Momentum property management team supports White Lion Walk’s pop-up project

Retail Focus

Leading North West property services company, The Momentum Group , has supported real estate company, Redevco, with the instalment of three new pop-up tenants at White Lion Walk in Guildford, following the destination’s Incubator Project in partnership with Save The High Street. The tenant support was led by Momentum Manage, following its appointment earlier this year to deliver property management services at the centre.

article thumbnail

Why adopting unified email and SMS solution is essential to engaging customers

Inside Retail

SMS delivers brands a quick impact, a high traffic spike and higher sales according to research – so retailers who have not adopted it as a cornerstone of their marketing programs are likely losing sales to their competitors. Intelligent marketing automation platform Klaviyo teamed up with subscription and recurring payments platform Recharge to survey more than 8000 people across North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region.

Consumer 147
article thumbnail

NEWS: SML RFID Delivers 98% Inventory Accuracy to Gina Tricot

I’m getting in touch with the news that fashion retailer, Gina Trictot, has achieved 98% inventory accuracy thanks to its partnership with SML RFID. Please see the full press release below, including exclusive quotes.

article thumbnail

Southwest Airlines To Do Away With Open Seating

Retail Wire

Southwest has had open seating since its inception 53 years ago, but the company explained that "preferences have evolved with more customers taking longer flights where a seat assignment is preferred.

130
130
article thumbnail

Lindt set to open its first New Zealand store

Inside Retail

Swiss premium chocolatier Lindt plans to open its first shop in New Zealand at the Manawa Bay premium outlet centre in September. The chocolate shop will join over 100 international and national businesses at Manawa Bay, located adjacent to Auckland International Airport. The store will be accessible through the central entry and close to the eating area, which overlooks park-like surroundings and a children’s play area.

Location 147
article thumbnail

Best Practices for Placing and Managing Interactive Displays

Tokinomo

Interactive displays have become an indispensable tool for businesses and organizations seeking to engage their audiences in a dynamic and immersive manner. With the right placement and management strategies, these displays can effectively captivate, inform, and entertain. This article explores the best practices for placing and managing interactive displays, providing valuable insights into the potential of this technology.

article thumbnail

Behind Black By Blue Brave’s ambition to bring Singaporean watches globally  

Inside Retail

After launching its first flagship store in Greater China, Singaporean watches and jewellery retailer Black By Blue Brave is now ready to take on the global watch market. “Black By Blue Brave is currently in a phase of global expansion,” Leo Wang, founder of Black By Blue Brave, told Inside Retail , adding the brand is looking into expanding in Europe, the US, Japan, South Korea, and Mainland China.

Fashion 130
article thumbnail

Mastering E-commerce Strategies to Drive Growth in B2B Distribution

B2B distributors and wholesalers: this webinar is for you! Discover the game-changing potential of composable commerce—a flexible, modern approach to e-commerce—and explore the strategies and technologies transforming the B2B landscape. Learn how to create custom digital experiences for your business from the leaders at Orium , commercetools , and Contentful as they walk through real-world examples, providing actionable insights on how to future-proof your business, integrate new opportunities s

article thumbnail

CrowdStrike Gift Card Voucher Is Blocked by Uber

Retail Wire

In the aftermath of the global tech outage caused by a faulty software update from CrowdStrike, new developments have occurred.

130
130
article thumbnail

Hermes beats the luxury blues; sales surge 15 per cent 

Inside Retail

Luxury fashion company Hermes has posted a 15 per cent increase in sales for the first half, with double-digit growth recorded across all markets. The company’s consolidated revenue for the January-June period reached €7.5 billion (US$8.1 billion). Japan led the growth with a 22 per cent increase in sales, while Asia (excluding Japan) saw a 10 per cent improvement.

article thumbnail

Boohoo launches marketplace with over 150 brands

Retail Gazette

Boohoo has launched an online marketplace as it looks to become a “one-stop destination for all fashion, beauty and lifestyle needs”. Customers will be able to shop from 150 brands including Revolution Beauty , L’Oréal Paris, Ray-Ban, Marc Jacobs, and Michael Kors. The retailer said Boohoo Brands allows it to leverage its vast network to quickly onboard new brands and maintain robust relationships with existing partners.

article thumbnail

Macy’s Gambles on Luxury Line To Boost Profits

Retail Wire

Macy's has been facing a downturn of profits lately.

147
147
article thumbnail

eCommerce in 2025: How Customer Experience Drives Online Retail Success

Speaker: Jennifer Wright and Nick Barron

2025 is right around the corner, and with it comes a new wave of consumer expectations, competitive pressures, and operational challenges. Success lies in finding the balance between operational flexibility and creating experiences that keep customers coming back. The future of retail belongs to those who can stay ahead of shifting customer preferences and marketing trends. 🔮 In this session, we’ll dive deep into what it takes to keep customers engaged and your operations nimble, no matt

article thumbnail

Majestic Wine invests £1m in store estate expansion

Retail Gazette

Majestic Wine has unveiled a £1m investment into its store estate, as it plans to expand at an average of one new shop per month over the coming years. The alcohol retailer has opened two new stores in the South East of England and completed two major refurbishment projects in the Midlands and Scotland within six days, as it ramps up efforts to expand and modernise its stores.

article thumbnail

Saks Global confirms layoffs

Retail Dive

The HBC-owned business is prepping for its takeover of rival Neiman Marcus Group, which includes Bergdorf Goodman, a spokesperson said Wednesday.

129
129
article thumbnail

Why is Frasers Group building a shopping centre portfolio – and what is it doing with it?

Retail Gazette

Frasers Group is known for being one of the sector’s most prolific investors in retail brands, but it’s also quickly becoming a property giant. The Mike Ashley-controlled business is currently in talks to acquire the entire Princesshay Shopping Centre in Exeter after US-based asset manager Nuveen put its 50% stake up for sale last month. If a deal is agreed, the centre would add to Frasers’ rapidly expanding property portfolio, which also includes Doncaster’s Frenchgate shopping centre, wh

Shopping 113
article thumbnail

Samsung Galaxy Ring: Features & Reviews

Retail Wire

Samsung's new Galaxy Ring is now available.

147
147
article thumbnail

How to Maximize Amazon Sales and Crush the Competition

With over 9 million sellers on Amazon, online marketplaces are more crowded than ever. Whether you’re looking to fine-tune prices in real-time or align strategies across channels, this guide provides the tools to understand how to maximize sales and secure a lasting competitive edge. Download now to transform your pricing strategy and drive holiday success.