Retail TouchPoints

JUNE 4, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic brought into sharp focus which retailers were better prepared to weather massive market disruption and which were not. Supply chain challenges, technology gaps and dwindling cash reserves have resulted in locked-up inventory, lost sales and, in extreme cases, bankruptcies. Retailers have scrambled to ensure customers are able to get essential items as quickly as possible, using different methods to remain contact-free such as curbside pickup, social distancing while shoppin

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Drop-Shipping Shipping Customer Experience Consumer 234

Retail Adventures

JUNE 4, 2020

The COVID-19 shutdown put retailers at a disadvantage and now everyone is playing catch up. In addition to keeping associates and customers safe via the guidelines imposed by your state and community, you still have a store to run. It’s important to keep your eye on the future. We will still have a Black Friday and Holiday 2020 and you have to be prepared.

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Markdowns Returns Promotions Planning 90

Wiser

JUNE 3, 2020

Direct-to-consumer retail is not a new business model, but the rise of e-commerce has changed the retail playing field by making it easier for D2C startups to compete. Previously stale product categories have had new life breathed into them by D2C startups that cut out the middlemen. It’s an exciting field that has excited consumers and opened a new level of competition for traditional retailers.

Marketing 88

Marketing Beauty and Health Consumer Promotions 88

RepslyBlog

JUNE 3, 2020

For CPG brands mastering the retail channel is a massive opportunity, but those who have played in the space before know it takes a committed investment to reap the benefits. To make the most of that investment, CPG sales and marketing teams are putting data at the forefront of their retail execution efforts, unlocking the insight they need to prioritize and maximize high-opportunity initiatives.

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Accounting Marketing ATS 72

Advertiser: ZoomInfo

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Consumer

Retail TouchPoints

JUNE 3, 2020

COVID-19 has accelerated the contactless revolution: 84% of Americans ( 77% among global consumers) now expect to increase their use of touchless technologies to avoid physical contact for the remainder of the pandemic, with 55% ( 63% globally) planning to continue doing so afterward, according to a survey by Capgemini. More than two-thirds ( 69% ) of retail executives also expect enthusiasm for contactless options will continue.

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Payment Services Checkout Kiosk Consumer 222

DMS Retail

JUNE 2, 2020

Accomplish so much more…get maximum ROI…and reduce the number of physical store visits. It goes without saying that store visits are happening in your retail organization. Whether they are happening with the right frequency or being properly executed are things only you can know. You would know if you see quantifiable results following store visits, right?

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Loss Prevention Planning Management Returns 40

RepslyBlog

JUNE 2, 2020

One of the biggest challenges of selling to Kroger is also the biggest opportunity: there are nearly 3,000 Kroger store locations in the U.S, and many of them are among the busiest stores in the country. Offering in-store support for your brand from coast to coast, or even in just a few key geographies, is essential, and sending your sales reps to do routine audits and merchandising can give your brand a big advantage — but supporting so many stores is expensive.

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Location 64

Retail TouchPoints

JUNE 2, 2020

Over the past several days, executives from diverse retail companies issued statements and social media posts to employees and customers, seeking to compassionately address the strong feelings stirred up by the death of George Floyd and racism in general. Even as their stores were being looted as many protests turned into nightly riots, retailers avoided criticizing those actions or the perpetrators.

ATS 206

ATS 206

Retail Technology Review

JUNE 3, 2020

Please find enclosed the invoice for the design and layout of Craft Butcher April issue. The retail sector cannot escape the economic impact of COVID-19. But, despite the difficult economic outlook, is now the time to invest in technology?

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Retail TouchPoints

JUNE 4, 2020

Estonian grocery chains Coop Estonia , Selver and Prisma will deploy the Cleveron 501 robotic grocery solution at some of their stores. The stand-alone units are installed in parking lots near supermarkets, allowing shoppers to pick up their orders at a designated time by simply entering a PIN on a user console. Each unit is 25 square meters in size and climate-controlled for continuous operation all year.

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Grocer Supermarket ATS Fulfillment 202

Speaker: Becky Parisotto and John Vurdelja

Fulfillment is no longer just about getting products from point A to point B – it's about crafting seamless, scalable, customer first experiences. Flexible fulfillment strategies are more important than ever for those aiming to stay ahead and build resilience as retail enters a new era in 2025. Learn how to optimize fulfillment processes, tackle complex, multi-vendor orders, and create seamless customer experiences – from white-glove delivery for high-value items to quick-ship solutions for ever

Fulfillment

Retail TouchPoints

JUNE 4, 2020

Simon Property Group is suing Gap on the grounds that the retailer has failed to pay more than $65.9 million in rent and other charges during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to CNBC. Gap stopped paying rent on its temporarily closed stores in April, a move that was expected to save approximately $155 million in monthly costs. Gap and its banners, including Banana Republic and Old Navy , operate 412 stores at Simon properties, making it one of the mall operator’s biggest in-line tenants in terms

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Payment Services Fashion Planning Shopping 198

Retail TouchPoints

MAY 31, 2020

Add To Calendar. COVID-19 means retailers must go back to basics in many areas, including their personalization efforts, according to Brendan Witcher, Principal Analyst for Digital Business Strategy for Forrester. That requires retailers to put themselves in their customers’ shoes, asking consumers what they need (and want) right now from retailers — and being aware that these answers are likely to change dramatically as the pandemic proceeds.

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Consumer 180

Retail TouchPoints

JUNE 5, 2020

Gap was hit hard by the closure of 90% of its stores during Q1 2020, resulting in a 43% sales drop and a net loss of $932 million. While e-Commerce sales rose 40% year-over-year in April and 100% during May, total online growth for the quarter was just 13% , below the results reported by some other retailers. Results for Gap’s individual banners varied, though none escaped the quarter unscathed: Gap: Net sales down 50% , store sales down 64% and e-Commerce sales down 5%.

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Fashion Planning Store Operations ATS 177

Retail TouchPoints

JUNE 5, 2020

Historically, marketers have used Mother’s Day to tug at consumers’ heartstrings in order to get them to open their wallets. But this year, things were different. With many consumers still socially distancing, Mother’s Day gatherings were limited to video chats and driveway meetups. These realities significantly changed the dynamics of the holiday, driving brands like Shapermint to rethink the way they spoke to their audience.

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Advertising Consumer Marketing Planning 177

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Customer Experience

Retail TouchPoints

JUNE 3, 2020

Clark Linstone, a 30-year veteran at Lamps Plus , has added Chief Operating Officer (COO) to his portfolio, overseeing e-Commerce, store and distribution center operations. Linstone also will retain his current title of CFO, and he remains in charge of both Lamps Plus Hospitality, the company’s hotels and resorts trade business, and Pacific Coast Lighting, a wholesale portable lighting company.

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Promotions Wholesale Planning ATS 177

Retail TouchPoints

JUNE 2, 2020

While the world is busy bending the curve in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, retailers are busy bending a curve of their own — the cost curve — as businesses f ight for survival. Though retailers are tempted to cut costs through the reduction of human capital, many are doing so without considering the long-term impact. Given the additional expense to sever and then rehire people, coupled with the lag in initial productivity as new/re-hired employees ramp up to steady-state productivity,

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Management Returns Marketing ATS 177

Retail TouchPoints

JUNE 3, 2020

Stitch Fix is reportedly laying off 1,400 stylists, or about 18% of its total staff, according to The Wall Street Journal. The retailer will provide severance payments and bonuses as well as extended healthcare coverage for affected employees. Most of the layoffs will take place in September, and those affected will be able to stay with the company if they relocate to a less expensive area.

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Planning 171

Retail TouchPoints

JUNE 4, 2020

As retailers continue to reopen their stores, employee training and empowerment are coming to the forefront. And although store managers and associates will play a crucial role in how the industry moves forward, industry experts affirm that all members of the retail enterprise — from the C-level on down — must prioritize learning and development in order to acquire the skills needed to adapt and evolve in a world affected by COVID-19.

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Management Fulfillment Store Operations Consumer 169

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Retail TouchPoints

JUNE 3, 2020

According to 2018 research into retail technology adoption by AVIXA, the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association, 47% of retailers surveyed said they planned to increase the amount of digital signage in their stores. When we asked shoppers what they thought of the many displays, videowalls and other digital experiences popping up in retail, more than half took a utilitarian view — it helped them find products and/or learn about them — but a whopping 41% said it added to their enjoyment

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Planning Shopping Promotions ATS 167

Retail TouchPoints

JUNE 5, 2020

Customer journeys have been disrupted by COVID-19 and acquisition costs continue to rise, making it increasingly difficult to connect with consumers. In the absence of in-store interactions, affiliates can help provide shoppers with guidance and move them through the purchase funnel. Today’s path to purchase can comprise of as many as 10 to 12 touch points, interrupted, unclear and far from linear.

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Marketing Payment Services Promotions Consumer 159

Retail TouchPoints

JUNE 1, 2020

There have been plenty of “new realities” retail brands have had to adjust to over the past few months. The COVID-19 crisis has forced brands to reallocate staff and budgets, as well as adjusting to a world where digital has not only become a more dominant channel, but often the only option to connect with and serve customers. Retail TouchPoints recently spoke with Randall Rothenberg, CEO of IAB , a trade association for interactive marketing representing more than 600 leading media, marketing a

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Advertising Wholesale Marketing Payment Services 159

Retail TouchPoints

JUNE 5, 2020

Food Lion will acquire 62 BI-LO / Harveys Supermarket stores in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia from Southeastern Grocers. The grocery retailer expects to hire more than 4,650 associates to keep the new locations staffed. The locations will retain the BI-LO and Harvey’s names until the transaction is complete, a process that is expected to take place over a staggered period from January through April 2021.

Grocer 150

Grocer Supermarket Location Store Operations 150

Advertiser: ZoomInfo

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Planning

Retail TouchPoints

JUNE 4, 2020

Accelerating previously planned technology investments, Tractor Supply has launched its first mobile app and a redesigned e-Commerce site in order to meet the needs of customers relying more on digital devices since the beginning of the pandemic. As an essential retailer during the COVID-19 shutdowns, Tractor Supply also has seen a sales surge in its stores.

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Returns Marketing Planning Management 150

Retail TouchPoints

JUNE 4, 2020

Obsess , an AR and VR platform, can create virtual showrooms for brick-and-mortar retailers looking to recapture reluctant customers. The experiences aim for immersion and accessibility across both desktop and mobile devices, with no need to download apps or use headsets. The Obsess platform capabilities include: Creating 360-degree showrooms through either photography or CGI; Showcasing merchandise in a branded environment; and High-resolution zooming to help shoppers check out items in greater

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Fashion Customer Experience 147

Retail TouchPoints

JUNE 3, 2020

UK-based Tapi Carpets & Floors will implement the IntelocateRETAIL issue resolution management system as it reopens its 135 stores. The software will help the retailer increase transparency and the speed at which it resolves COVID-19-related issues, with the larger goal of increasing cost efficiencies and enhancing communication. The cloud-based IntelocateRETAIL platform integrates with corporate email systems to enable rapid communication of issues that require central office attention or a

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Management ATS Store Operations 147

Retail TouchPoints

JUNE 3, 2020

Digital asset management (DAM) platform Bynder has acquired We Adapt , a SaaS creative management platform that enables brands and agencies to automate and scale the creation and distribution of video advertising. We Adapt has been renamed Bynder Video Brand Studio and will be offered as an optional add-on module to the Bynder platform, or as a stand-alone.

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Management Advertising Marketing 147

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Accounting

Retail TouchPoints

JUNE 2, 2020

Walmart ’s performance during COVID-19 represents a success story, with 10% same-store sales growth and a whopping 74% e-Commerce sales increase in Q1 2020. The retail giant was already poised to benefit from current conditions, but the degree of its success offers a treasure trove of lessons about operating in a crisis. Retail TouchPoints discussed the key elements of its strategy with Lei Duran, SVP, Knowledge Team Retail Insights at Kantar , who heads up the consultancy’s Walmart coverage.

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Fulfillment Location Planning ATS 147

Retail TouchPoints

JUNE 5, 2020

The National Retail Federation (NRF) has elected two new members to its board of directors, Hal Lawton, President and CEO of Tractor Supply , and Anish Melwani, Chairman and CEO of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. Prior to joining Tractor Supply in January 2020, Lawton served as President of Macy’s for two years. Earlier, he held SVP posts at eBay and Home Depot.

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ATS Customer Experience 146

Retail TouchPoints

JUNE 4, 2020

WorkJam , an employee management solution provider, has released a new health check analysis tool for mobile devices. The software can help reopening retailers reduce the spread of COVID-19 among frontline employees and their customers while complying with local laws and regulations. Employers can use the solution to prompt workers to complete a recurring health check survey on their mobile devices that must be completed in order for them to clock in for a shift.

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Management 146

Retail TouchPoints

JUNE 4, 2020

Qualtrics , a customer experience management platform, has added new capabilities to the CoreXM experience management system. These new functions help the tool go beyond simply measuring experiences to help retailers better close experience gaps. Additions to the platform include: Ultimate Listening: The advanced listening capabilities can gather feedback from more than 125 data sources, including directly through web site feedback, voice conversations or questionnaires, and indirectly through o

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Management Customer Experience 146

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Customer Experience