Digital Innovation

Sam's Club, the Walmart-owned membership club, is testing its first all-digital store. Inside the club, which will open in mid-October in the Dallas area, customers will have to use a smartphone app called Scan & Go to ring up their purchases as they walk through the aisles. In the area typically reserved for cash registers,…

In the past few years, self-service tools have become a cornerstone of online shopping. These tools are great for confident shoppers who know what they're looking for but need a nudge in the right direction. Many great businesses have mastered self-service and the other tools necessary to support digital transactions. Nevertheless, companies still wish to…

After a few turbulent years, the stage has been set for retail’s in-store resurgence — fueled by technology. According to Gartner, retailers are continuing to invest in technology to engage with customers in-store and online — and find new audiences in the process. This spending will focus on marketing and IT functions to target new…

Over a decade ago, the mobile phone revolutionized e-commerce and shaped the importance of mobile-first shopping experiences, data collection, and trust. With consumers now expecting personalization from brands, retailers are racing to deliver one-to-one experiences to grab their attention and loyalty. Here are three ways retailers can harness the power of AI to transform the…

In a world with endless snack options, many CPG brands are looking to stand out in the supermarket aisle by taking a sound-on approach to marketing and investing in a sonic identity. Consumer packaged goods have long used sonic cues in advertising to give their products personality, such as those with familiar brand mascots like…

In an era defined by rapid transformation and technological innovation, the retail sector finds itself at the forefront of adaptation and change. Staying ahead of emerging trends is about setting the pace and leveraging new opportunities to outstrip competitors. For savvy retailers, this means continuously monitoring developments across multiple fronts, from experiential shopping to advanced…

In episode 447 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Sabrina Callahan, vice president, e-commerce at Sam's Club, a leading membership warehouse club offering superior products, savings and services, part of the Walmart portfolio. During the wide-ranging conversation, Callahan discusses her role at Sam's Club (1:15), collaborating with other departments within the company to…

The psychological connection between sound and human recall has long been scientifically established, with certain sounds having the power to transport us back to a moment in time, jog a memory, or even a feeling. The tune of an ice cream truck in the distance, for instance, conjures up the warm memories of childhood summers.…

Generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) is spurring organizations across different sectors to fundamentally reimagine their approach to digital transformation. Nowhere is its disruptive potential more evident than in retail, where Gen AI’s ever-increasing capabilities are powering a new age of customer-centric innovation. Retailers are exploring use cases across a wide range of functions, from new…

Grocery stores have been in a state of flux in recent years, influenced broadly by the economy and supply chain issues and, at the store level, by how consumers want to shop. This year, grocery bills are expected to exceed $300 a week, which in turn will impact the choices consumers are making at the…