Technology

Amazon Launches Fashion Shopping App for Kindle Fire, Android
June 20, 2012

Amazon.com has launched a MyHabit fashion site mobile app for the Kindle Fire and Android mobile phones. Amazon launched the MyHabit mobile app for the iPhone last August. Amazon launched the MyHabit.com "private" fashion sale site last year. Anyone can register for the site for free, which offers up to 60 percent off handpicked styles from designer and boutique brands across women's, men's, children's and home departments. Amazon calls the site a "luxurious fashion destination for shopping handpicked items."

PayPal Partners With Comcast, Tivo to Power Commerce Over TV
June 13, 2012

Would you like to receive coupons on your smartphone's digital wallet that are related to the products you're viewing on TV? Or forget the smartphone. How about buying products directly through your television using the remote control? PayPal announced it's working with television service providers to help power "television commerce," aka tcommerce. PayPal has entered into agreements with Comcast and TiVo as it tries to establish itself as a payment method for purchases made over the television. 

Evian Will Connect Your Fridge to the Internet With Smart Drop
June 12, 2012

Evian is sidestepping retail partners to sell its products directly to consumers with the promotion of a new online delivery service and the release of a new digital device it plans to make available widely in 2013. The device can be tacked onto a fridge and enables water delivery with the push of a single button. Initially, the website, called evianchezvous.com, is only available in Paris and its surrounding suburbs, the target being single-family homes and small businesses. The website will also permit delivery of other water products in the Danone family, such as Badoit or Volvic water.

Technology Helps Barnes & Noble Survive ... and Thrive
June 7, 2012

As it watched its biggest competitor file for bankruptcy and cease operating, Barnes & Noble knew that a change to its business model was necessary for its survival. Specifically, that change meant shifting its focus to becoming a digital book seller. In his keynote address at the Internet Retailer Conference & Exhibition in Chicago yesterday, William Lynch, CEO of Barnes & Noble, detailed how the bookstore chain has used the web to redefine and grow its business.

Just Say Buy …
June 1, 2012

Clear your throat, put down your mouse, take your fingers off the touchscreen; retail is primed to be the next industry to use the spoken word as the interface between consumers and technology. Driving this innovation in large part is the prevalence of smartphones today and, in turn, the growth of mobile commerce.

Has Real Social Commerce Finally Arrived?
June 1, 2012

Despite all the buzz around social media over the past several years, the concept of "real" social commerce — when consumers can actually buy merchandise directly from whichever social network they're visiting and wherever they happen to be — has eluded the industry.

Neiman Marcus to Equip Associates With Smartphones
May 31, 2012

Neiman Marcus is equipping all of its 4,000 associates at its full-line stores with smartphones in an effort to better serve customers, company executives said on the retailer’s recent conference call with analysts. Neiman’s executives also said the company plans to remodel it stores on Michigan Avenue in Chicago and in Bal Harbour Shops, Bal Harbour, Fla.

Toys"R"Us Adds QR Codes In-Store
May 29, 2012

Toys"R"Us has added QR codes in-store to promote more than 20 of its larger outdoor play products and to give consumers information on items that are too large to stock in stores. This past holiday season, the toy retailer first experimented with QR codes in its The Great Big Toys"R"Us Book holiday catalog. Last year, Toys"R"Us also featured a virtual store that let consumers scan QR codes featured on billboards across the country to virtually shop the retailer's "Hot Toy List." 

Nordstrom to Spend $140M on IT This Year
May 25, 2012

Nordstrom will spend $140 million, or 30 percent of its total capital expenditure budget, on information technology infrastructure improvements. As Forbes reported, the IT expenditures will be used to intensify Nordstrom's internet presence, such as its new Salt Lake City store that has 150 mobile point-of-sale-devices, which makes shopping faster.