Digital Innovation
March 9, 2022 at 10:23 am
The mobile age has streamlined our daily lives. It’s to the point where waiting in lines, dealing with people, or even leaving the house feels like a hassle when you can just push buttons on your phone to accomplish what you need. Thanks to our smartphones, we’ve reduced the ability to shop, pay, travel and…
March 8, 2022 at 3:18 pm
The past two years have shown us the value of preparation. For the first time in a long time, the average American has had to consider that everything can change at the drop of a dime. Despite new and unforeseen challenges in 2020 and 2021, preparation for the unexpected is nothing new for retailers. As…
March 7, 2022 at 10:56 am
CVS Health is looking to be the first pharmacy in the metaverse. The drugstore and health services company filed for a trademark to sell virtual goods, NFTs and provide healthcare services, joining major retailers like Walmart and Nike. In its filing with U.S. Patent Trade Office, CVS is looking to trademark its logo and to provide an…
March 3, 2022 at 2:51 pm
The retail landscape has reached a permanently hybridized state, with shopping flourishing both online and offline alongside stretched supply chains. Amidst this landscape, more traditional brands are working through a dramatic shift toward more e-commerce, while direct-to-consumer (D-to-C) natives consider expansion into retail distribution. Large, established CPG brands typically focused on selling in-store now face…
February 28, 2022 at 3:41 pm
Merchants and brands say they’re entering the metaverse by releasing non-fungible token (NFT) projects or buying land in virtual worlds like The Sandbox and Decentraland. The reality is neither brands nor NFT owners are in the metaverse because it hasn’t been built. They're exploring digital worlds, sure, but we can't have multiple "metaverses." And as…
February 23, 2022 at 4:20 pm
On Tuesday, Whole Foods opened its first store that allows customers to skip the register entirely. The store, located in Washington, D.C., uses Amazon.com's "Just Walk Out" technology. (Whole Foods is owned by Amazon.) Customers scan their Whole Foods app, credit card or Amazon app when they enter; sensors and cameras detect what items the customer…
January 25, 2022 at 7:52 pm
The past two years have seen a monumental shift in how businesses function, especially small to midsized businesses (SMBs). At the onslaught of the pandemic, many SMBs struggled to stay afloat. However, the quick adoption of digital e-commerce platforms enabled many to achieve agility and resilience amid challenging times. Today, SMBs are poised for growth…
January 25, 2022 at 6:59 pm
If there’s one major takeaway from last week's National Retail Federation's (NRF) Big Show, it’s that the accelerated evolution of the retail industry and shift to digital channels isn’t letting up anytime soon. NRF announced that e-commerce spending was up 11.3 percent during the 2021 holiday season, providing further evidence that online shopping continues to grow…
January 19, 2022 at 7:16 pm
Walmart appears to be venturing into the metaverse with plans to create its own cryptocurrency and collection of non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, reports CNBC. The big-box retailer filed seven new trademarks late last month that indicate its intent to make and sell virtual goods, including electronics, home decorations, toys, sporting goods and personal care products.…
December 14, 2021 at 5:52 pm
Nike announced that it bought virtual sneaker company RTFKT for an undisclosed sum, as the sportswear giant looks to quickly expand its footprint in the fast-growing “metaverse,” reports CNBC. Formed in 2020, RTFKT also makes NFT collectibles and memes. The virtual products and experiences company uses technologies like augmented reality, blockchain authentication, NFTs and game…
