Amazon.com confirmed today that it's launching a new business line selling the technology behind its cashier-less convenience stores to other retailers. In addition, Amazon told Reuters it has signed “several” deals with customers it would not name. The technology, which Amazon calls Just Walk Out, enables shoppers to enter a store, grab merchandise, and go. Here's how it works: In…
The retail industry has undergone sweeping changes in the past decade, with brands revamping stores and providing new services and delivery options to meet customers’ rising expectations. Until recently, grocery had been largely untouched by these new forces roiling Main Street. However, grocery is now going through its own transformation as new competitors arrive and…
Nordstrom is closing all six of its Trunk Club stores and folding the personalized clothing service into its department stores, Chicago Tribune reported. Nordstrom paid $350 million to buy Trunk Club, a Chicago-based startup, five years ago, with plans to grow the personal shopping business. Erik Nordstrom, CEO of Nordstrom, told the Chicago Tribune that by…
In episode 236 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews David Pisker, general manager, customer experience and e-commerce at Officeworks, a big-box Australian retailer providing office supplies and business services. Listen in as Pisker discusses Officeworks use of an in-store traffic tool from Kepler Analytics, which has helped with in-store operations such as merchandising…
Hudson’s Bay Co. (HBC) said last week that it won shareholders’ approval to become a private company owned by the group of continuing shareholders led by HBC Governor and Executive Chairman Richard Baker. Other shareholders will get CA$11 ($8.23) per share in cash in the deal, which is subject to customary closing conditions, including court approval.…
A recent article in The New York Times looked at life in retail during the recent holiday selling season. It centered on a busy Manhattan store of a big, well-regarded apparel chain and one of its merchandising managers. I wasn’t surprised to read the retailer equipped employees with several apps to expedite sales and keep…
Amazon.com opened its first full-size, cashierless Amazon Go Grocery store in Seattle yesterday, reports CNBC. The store is about 10,400 square feet, stocking roughly 5,000 items, including fresh produce, meats and alcohol, and expands upon the technology in Amazon's Go convenience shops. Shoppers can walk in, scan a QR code from their Amazon mobile app…
Amazon.com, Etsy, eBay ... these are just a few of the top grossing online merchandise sites, dedicated to making the consumer’s retail experience easier than ever. Amazon boasts its two-day shipping guarantee for Prime members, while Etsy caters to the entrepreneurial spirit of the buyer who wants their goods completely customized and unique. In theory,…
In episode 235 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Kevin Moffitt, chief retail officer at Office Depot. Listen in as Moffitt discusses Office Depot’s transformation from a B-to-C office supplies retailer to a business services platform, why the brand is making this transition, and how the brand's history plays into that decision. Moffitt shares…
Many retail observers and experts have similar advice for success: provide a data-driven, personalized shopping experience; make transactions as convenient as possible; and engage with shoppers on social media and through influencers. Brands should surely implement these strategies to see what works for them. Our recommendation for engaging with Gen Z shoppers — 18 to…
