In-Store Technology

In episode 134 of Total Retail Talks, recorded earlier this year at the National Retail Federation's Big Show in New York City, Steve Wilder, CFO and CIO of City Furniture, a South Florida-based furniture, mattress and home accessories retailer, discusses how the launch of three mobile apps has helped the company's store associates personalize and…

There's little doubt in the retail industry that it’s time to make big changes. And if anything was clear this year at the National Retail Federation's Big Show, it was that retailers are on the search for technologies that can help them adapt to the times. Specifically, these retailers are looking to provide the omnichannel…

In an interview at the eTail West conference in Palm Springs, Calif., this morning, Bruce Starnes, vice president, digital solutions, Target, addressed how the big-box retailer is evolving its business to thrive in a changing retail environment. Starnes was interviewed by Jenny Kaplan, consumer goods reporter for Bloomberg.

Retail personalization has long been the domain of the e-commerce retailers that redefined the concept of local retailing by bringing it to a geographically unrestricted audience at scale, leaving traditional retailers scrambling to combat their new, impersonal identity. And as retail stalwarts shuttered their doors and malls became modern American ghost towns, the narrative that…

Nearly 90 percent of retail sales still take place in physical stores. Yet the rise of voice-activated “intelligent assistants” such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home is taking the brand relationship out of the store and into the home, forever changing the way that consumers engage with products and services. Fortunately for retailers, the same…

In episode 132 of Total Retail Talks, recorded last month at the National Retail Federation's Big Show in New York City, Molly Mecham, senior digital product manager, Finish Line, shares how the athletic footwear, apparel and accessories brand is using smart mirror technology in its brick-and-mortar stores to better engage shoppers. Mecham details the Finish…

Amazon.com is reportedly planning to open as many as six more Amazon Go storefronts this year, according to a report in Recode. People familiar with the company’s plans reportedly told Recode some of the new high-tech stores are likely to open in Amazon’s hometown of Seattle, where the first location is, as well as Los Angeles.…

French luxury house Chanel has teamed up with global e-commerce platform Farfetch to develop digital initiatives, including a branded app to help create a personalized in-store experiences for Chanel shoppers, according to Reuters. Farfetch connects buyers to luxury fashion items from more 700 boutiques worldwide. Under the new deal, Chanel will not sell its products through…

In episode 131 of Total Retail Talks, Brian Schultz, senior director, e-commerce and digital product management, Crate and Barrel, discusses how the furniture and home decor retailer is using technology to better connect its customers’ online and offline shopping experiences. Schultz details how Crate and Barrel's native mobile app plays a role in customers’ in-store…

While the retail industry comes to terms with its need to innovate, some brands are finding that great aspirations aren’t all that matters. Speed does, too. With that in mind, some companies are making aggressive moves to adopt new in-store solutions as quickly as possible. As GeoMarketing points out, Neiman Marcus has taken this commitment to heart,…