Retail TouchPoints

DECEMBER 22, 2020

Nike plans to open 30 stores in the second half of 2021 as the retailer positions itself for long-term growth. Leaders discussed their plans for the business, including growing its connections with shoppers and improving supply chain capabilities, on a Dec. 18 call with analysts. The retailer’s plan to better connect with consumers will include “scaling direct connections with contactable members,” according to Matt Friend, EVP and CFO at Nike.

Checkout 358

Checkout Planning Consumer Management 358

Retail TouchPoints

JUNE 25, 2020

Even before COVID-19, the retail industry was already going through significant challenges, disruption and transformation. That has all been turned on its head. Get ready for the “new abnormal.”. Going forward there will be a fundamental shift in consumers’ reengagement and behavior towards physical environments, including the size and program of space.

Consumer 345

Consumer Boutique Outdoor Shopping 345

Retail TouchPoints

AUGUST 27, 2020

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia has approved the J.Crew Group reorganization plan, paving the way for the parent company of J.Crew , J.Crew Factory and Madewell to emerge from Chapter 11 in early September. J.Crew was an early casualty in what has become a long list of retailers that have filed for bankruptcy in the wake of COVID-19.

Finance 340

Finance Planning Store Operations Customer Experience 340

Retail TouchPoints

SEPTEMBER 18, 2020

Consumer expectations are constantly on the rise, driven by innovations and new offerings that promise more efficient and personalized experiences. For retailers, the stakes of customer satisfaction and engagement that come with a digital world are extremely high: In one recent survey, nearly 70% of consumers said that page speed influences their decision to purchase, with 15% saying that slow loading times would send them to a competitor’s site.

Consumer 338

Consumer Customer Experience Inventory Management Management 338

Advertiser: ZoomInfo

Incorporating generative AI (gen AI) into your sales process can speed up your wins through improved efficiency, personalized customer interactions, and better informed decision- making. Gen AI is a game changer for busy salespeople and can reduce time-consuming tasks, such as customer research, note-taking, and writing emails, and provide insightful data analysis and recommendations.

Consumer

Retail TouchPoints

NOVEMBER 12, 2020

Aetrex Worldwide has launched Albert 2, the next generation of the company’s 3D foot scanning technology. The omnichannel device is designed to be a fully integrated foot scanning system that can help shoppers find correctly fitting footwear and orthotics and provide an enhanced customer experience at retail. Customers step into the Albert 2, which can scan both feet in 20 seconds or less, to capture static and dynamic pressure as well as 3D measurements of the foot.

Customer Experience 335

Customer Experience Returns Shopping Marketing 335

Retail TouchPoints

OCTOBER 26, 2020

This year’s surge in ecommerce has put strains on both supply chains and websites, and retailers now are guessing what challenges they will face as fall and winter bring the threat of a COVID-19 resurgence as well as the usual holiday rush. With ecommerce traffic unlikely to wane anytime soon, retailers need to harden their operations to prepare for a potential holiday rush.

Grocer 334

Grocer Consumer Promotions Fashion 334

Retail TouchPoints

SEPTEMBER 3, 2020

Returns are a cost of doing business for any retailer. But despite representing $309 billion in lost sales for U.S. retailers last year, they haven’t always been a strategic focus. In the wake of COVID-19, returns are receiving serious (and necessary) attention for several key reasons: Retailers are spending more processing returns in stores. They are expected to keep merchandise out of circulation due to COVID infection concerns and to provide employees with personal protection to prevent infec

Returns 324

Returns Merchant Services Department Stores Shipping 324

Retail TouchPoints

OCTOBER 27, 2020

IKEA has partnered with Google Cloud to improve it technological capabilities, including the implementation of AI and machine learning tools, upgrading omnichannel capabilities and exploring new customer service offerings. The retailer already was using Google Cloud to help scale operations during the coronavirus pandemic and will continue looking into new possibilities.

Customer Experience 322

Customer Experience ATS 322

Retail TouchPoints

AUGUST 26, 2020

There’s lots of potential danger in supply chain operations: work at distribution centers involves using heavy equipment to pick, pack and move products at an extremely fast pace. Walmart’s U.S. division achieved dramatic safety improvements with a daily training solution that provides personalized short quizzes on safety topics, helping change on-the-job behaviors of more than 100,000 associates at 150 DCs.

Planning 322

Planning ATS Fulfillment 322

Retail TouchPoints

DECEMBER 31, 2020

2020 has been an exceptional year for the retail sector, with all businesses having to rapidly adapt in some way or another. Such a time of upheaval has led to a permanent, irreversible change in consumer behavior as shoppers embrace the convenience and security of ecommerce more readily. There is much for retail organizations to do to make themselves resilient to the incoming challenges, but enhancing omnichannel capabilities and building powerful ecommerce experiences will be crucial.

Consumer 318

Consumer Checkout Customer Experience Supermarket 318

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

DECEMBER 8, 2020

The AI-powered autonomous shopping experience just got bigger, in the form of a 4,000-square-foot hybrid convenience market called AI Go in Shanghai. The store combines a manned checkout with the use of computer vision as part of checkout-free shopping powered by AiFi Solutions. Stocking 2,000 SKUs ranging from fresh meats to snacks, this store represents the largest deployment to date of the AiFi Autonomous Store Platform OASIS.

Shopping 318

Shopping Checkout Payment Services Consumer 318

Retail TouchPoints

AUGUST 6, 2020

DoorDash is taking dark store fulfillment in a new direction with an online delivery service that sells products from its owned and operated local distribution centers. The DashMart convenience stores carry approximately 2,000 products, a combination of basics and impulse items — such as snacks, groceries, over-the-counter medicines and pet food — along with “fan favorites” from local and national restaurant chains.

Merchant Services 317

Merchant Services Marketing Grocer Fulfillment 317

Retail TouchPoints

OCTOBER 1, 2020

Bed Bath & Beyond achieved a 6% sales increase in Q2 2020, its first growth since Q4 2016, driven by an 89% jump in ecommerce sales. The online growth offset a 12% decline in same-store sales, bringing net sales to $2.7 billion. The retailer credited the improvements to its expansion of omnichannel offerings such as buy online, pick up in-store (BOPIS) and curbside pickup during the pandemic.

314

314

Retail TouchPoints

DECEMBER 7, 2020

Walgreens Boots Alliance and VillageMD will open the next 40 Village Medical at Walgreens full-service primary care clinics by the end of summer 2021. The first markets slated for expansion include Houston, El Paso and Austin, Texas; Phoenix; and Orlando, Fla. The expansion is part of the large-scale rollout that will open 500 to 700 Village Medical at Walgreens clinics in more than 30 U.S. markets in the next five years.

Planning 312

Planning Location Clienteling Marketing 312

Advertisement

Unlock agility, boost performance, and gain control over your Salesforce frontend with the latest masterclass from Composable.com : Modernizing the Frontend Experience on Salesforce Commerce Cloud Featuring experts from Algolia, Ember, Netlify, and Stripe, this masterclass focuses on practical strategies for optimizing your Salesforce Commerce Cloud storefronts using modern composable commerce integrations.

Customer Experience

Retail TouchPoints

SEPTEMBER 29, 2020

In anticipation of customer demand for more and faster delivery options during the holidays, Bed Bath & Beyond has launched multiple options for same-day home delivery. Customers selecting home delivery on the Bed Bath & Beyond and buybuy BABY websites will have their orders fulfilled in stores by personal shoppers working with Shipt , a division of Target.

Fulfillment 313

Fulfillment Apparel Location Shopping 313

Retail TouchPoints

AUGUST 10, 2020

In June , DICK’S Sporting Goods launched its two new discount-focused store concepts — DICK’S Sporting Goods Warehouse and OVERTIME by DICK’S Sporting Goods — with the opening of five Warehouse and three OVERTIME locations. This month, the retailer will open five more Warehouse stores and one additional OVERTIME location. DICK’s also is expanding the footprint of its predominant DICK’S Sporting Goods brand with four new stores and one combination DICK’S and Golf Galaxy location

Sporting Goods 311

Sporting Goods Location Customer Experience 311

Retail TouchPoints

NOVEMBER 4, 2020

Consumer preference for online shopping continues to rise, as more purchases are being made online than in stores with each passing year. In 2019 , the total market share of online U.S. retail sales surpassed general merchandise sales for the first time in history. And as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, this trend is only increasing. According to McKinsey , ecommerce sales in apparel, department stores and beauty products have increased by nearly 10%, on average, since the onset of the pan

Merchant Services 309

Merchant Services Payment Services Accounting Jewelry 309

Retail TouchPoints

JUNE 29, 2020

Lowe’s will pay its frontline employees an additional $100 million in bonuses, bringing the retailer’s total commitment to associates and communities during the pandemic to more than $450 million. The money is being offered to recognize the work they have done for the company during the COVID-19 crisis. All active hourly associates in Lowe’s U.S. stores, distribution centers and store support centers will receive the bonuses in mid-July.

Planning 309

Planning ATS 309

Advertisement

In a digital-first world, website security is non-negotiable. This comprehensive guide explores the critical importance of securing your site against hackers and vulnerabilities like SQL injection, XSS, and malware. Discover tools like SiteLock for threat monitoring and CodeGuard for seamless backups, ensuring robust protection for your data and operations.

Retail TouchPoints

DECEMBER 21, 2020

Retail businesses have faced myriad challenges in 2020. First came the COVID-19 outbreak, with a global recession close on its heels. Now, few experts have meaningful advice to offer beyond advising investment in ecommerce. Even so, online sales aren’t always enough to keep brick-and-mortar retailers out of bankruptcy. To future-proof your business, you need to think beyond social distancing precautions and reimagine the customer experience from the ground up.

Visual Merchandising 307

Visual Merchandising Customer Experience Management Location 307

Retail TouchPoints

OCTOBER 19, 2020

Despite the turmoil COVID-19 has caused for the retail industry, brands across many categories have found innovative ways to stay connected to their communities and continue to generate business revenue, especially through ecommerce. Instrument maker Fender , for example, wanted to find a way to keep consumers engaged despite its dealer network being disrupted by store closures.

Consumer 301

Consumer Fulfillment Planning Promotions 301

Retail TouchPoints

NOVEMBER 3, 2020

Inspire Brands will purchase Dunkin’ Brands , parent company of Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins , in a transaction valued at approximately $11.3 billion. Dunkin’ will join a restaurant portfolio of more than 11,000 locations, across brands including Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, SONIC Drive-In and Jimmy John’s. The deal will nearly triple Inspire’s footprint, with the addition of more than 12,500 Dunkin’ and almost 8,000.

Location 300

Location Store Operations ATS 300

Retail TouchPoints

AUGUST 28, 2020

Amazon is purchasing 1,800 electric vehicles (EVs) from Mercedes-Benz Vans for its European last-mile delivery fleet almost one year after becoming the first signatory of the Climate Pledge — a commitment to meeting the goal of net zero annual carbon emissions 10 years earlier than the Paris Agreement. Amazon’s Delivery Service Partners are expected to have access to the new fleet of zero-emission vehicles by the end of 2020.

Returns 301

Returns ATS Fulfillment 301

Speaker: Duke Heninger, Partner and Fractional CFO at Ampleo & Creator of CFO System

Are you ready to elevate your accounting processes for 2025? 🚀 Join us for an exclusive webinar led by Duke Heninger, 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.

Accounting

Retail TouchPoints

JUNE 15, 2020

Before COVID-19, the brick-and-mortar shopping differentiator for the consumer was the in-person experience: They could try on the goods, or just see them in context. They could lie down on that mattress. It wasn’t a problem if customers opened that dresser drawer and touched every handle in the display. But for the foreseeable future, shopping will be “ no contact.

Shopping 301

Shopping Boutique Supermarket Management 301

Retail TouchPoints

AUGUST 5, 2020

Eye tracking is a common way for retailers to research buying behavior, but until recently eye trackers have been extremely limited in scope. They can only track eye movements on 2D surfaces such as videos and images. This is leaving retailers in the dark when it comes to truly understanding customers. Recently, the support of eye tracking by virtual reality (VR) headsets has made a new dimension accessible for data collection.

Consumer 299

Consumer Shopping ATS Planning 299

Retail TouchPoints

NOVEMBER 27, 2020

There is no doubt that retailers have faced many struggles as a result of the pandemic. Brick-and-mortar stores were forced to shutter around the country, forcing retailers to amplify their ecommerce efforts, with varying levels of success. Many struggled to adapt, resulting in a record number of bankruptcies, and in some cases complete closures, including industry stalwarts like Neiman Marcus, Lord & Taylor and J.Crew.

Shopping 297

Shopping Consumer Marketing Promotions 297

Retail TouchPoints

DECEMBER 17, 2020

The Winning Windows of New York grand-prize Platinum Award went to Bloomingdale’s, whose windows encouraged viewers to take joy in the little things. Photo by Tim Sibley. Inspired by light and the colors of Bloomingdale’s holiday campaign, each color-blocked window uses simple objects and unexpected materials to make viewers smile. Photo by Tim Sibley.

Visual Merchandising 293

Visual Merchandising Apparel Fashion ATS 293

Advertiser: Experience Retail Today

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.

Fashion

Retail TouchPoints

DECEMBER 10, 2020

Target has become a founding member of OneTen , a coalition of 37 companies that aim to train, hire and advance 1 million Black Americans who lack a four-year college degree. The organization’s 10-year goal will be to move them into family-sustaining jobs with opportunities for advancement. Target also plans to make a financial contribution to OneTen and create sustainable new jobs internally over the next three to four years.

ATS 293

ATS Planning 293

Retail TouchPoints

NOVEMBER 18, 2020

South American food retailer Grupo Éxito has renewed its DemandTec Price Optimization subscription. The solution helps Grupo Éxito identify shopper behavior trends in order to generate the right price recommendations and improve its assortment by defining product roles by zone and division. “Our multi-year relationship with DemandTec exemplifies how science-based optimization enables us to deliver prices that are more relevant for customers,” said Jorge Vallejot, Technology Director at Grupo Éxi

Promotions 293

Promotions Advertising ATS 293

Retail TouchPoints

AUGUST 28, 2020

Walmart is partnering with Microsoft to make a bid for the U.S. operations of short-form video platform TikTok. The offer will go up against acquisition bids by other major companies, possibly including Oracle, according to CNBC. If successful, the deal could help Walmart better position itself to merge its retail operations with media capabilities.

Advertising 293

Advertising Marketing Management ATS 293

Retail TouchPoints

AUGUST 3, 2020

As the country pulls through the worst of the COVID-19 shutdowns, economic recovery moves to the forefront of debate. Will the travel industry rebound? What about retail, especially the brick-and-mortar variety? While many are wondering if large retailers like Macy’s, J.Crew and Neiman Marcus will retain their premiere places in malls, few are considering whether the world of direct-to-consumer or DTC will also stumble in this changed retail landscape.

Outdoor 293

Outdoor Beauty and Health Marketing Advertising 293

Advertisement

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.