Retail TouchPoints

APRIL 17, 2024

As the digital landscape evolves, the impending demise of third-party cookies looms large, creating seismic shifts in how businesses understand user intent. Within the world of B2B and B2C commerce, where understanding consumer behavior is key, this change has spurred a quest for innovative solutions. Enter generative AI (gen AI) — a beacon of hope illuminating the path forward for retailers navigating this new terrain.

Target Market 297

Target Market Marketing Consumer Customer Experience 297

Retail TouchPoints

APRIL 16, 2024

Aldi has retrofitted its Aurora, Ill. supermarket with cashier-free checkout technology powered by computer vision. ALDIgo, using technology from Grabango , tracks which items shoppers put in their carts; customers can then pay with a credit or debit card or the Grabango app at cashierless pay stations or they can use traditional manned lanes. “It’s exciting to see a checkout-free capability live in one of our stores,” said Eric Traxler, VP of IT at Aldi in a statement.

Checkout 130

Checkout Supermarket ATS Consumer 130

Retail TouchPoints

APRIL 16, 2024

Dick’s Sporting Goods is expanding its partnership with sporting goods resale marketplace SidelineSwap following a previous expansion in 2023. As the partnership moves into its third year, SidelineSwap’s recommerce services will be available at more Dick’s locations across the U.S. through an ongoing series of trade-in events. During these events, Dick’s customers can bring in their used sports gear for evaluation by SidelineSwap experts.

Sporting Goods 147

Sporting Goods Planning Outdoor Apparel 147

Retail TouchPoints

APRIL 16, 2024

Amazon is expanding the reach of its Amazon Live shopping content with the debut of a new interactive shoppable channel on the Prime Video and Freevee streaming TV services. The HSN-style, free ad-supported TV (FAST) channel will give consumers expanded access to the content and creators of Amazon Live, which debuted in 2016 on desktop, mobile and Amazon’s Fire TV devices.

Shopping 130

Shopping Advertising Returns Consumer 130

Retail TouchPoints

MARCH 11, 2024

DoorDash has launched a Made by Women platform designed to champion female chefs and restaurateurs and provide access to marketing, educational and financial resources. To inaugurate the program, the Made by Women Grant program , in partnership with the digital networking platform for women, Monday Girl , will provide 15 grants of $10,000 to Canadian women-owned restaurants.

Marketing 147

Marketing Management ATS Consumer 147

Retail TouchPoints

MARCH 11, 2024

Gen Z consumers are neither easy to define nor predictable in their shopping habits. The consumer cohort born between 1996 or 1997 and 2010 and 2020 (there is no complete agreement here) is hard to read and reach because they are a product of the world they have been born into, one where change is constant, frequent and often unexpected. Among the many influences on their behaviors has been technology, because they have grown up with fixed and mobile screens.

Consumer 294

Consumer Department Stores Merchandise Store Advertising 294

Retail TouchPoints

MARCH 1, 2024

Party City will accelerate remodels to expand a new store format that features a dedicated service area for the retailer’s extensive balloon assortment along with “birthday worlds,” designed to be one-stop shops for both kids’ and adults’ celebrations. The retailer, which emerged from bankruptcy in October 2023 with a fleet of more than 750 stores, plans to introduce the new format in several locations across the U.S. during the first half of 2024.

Planning 278

Planning Shopping Location ATS 278

Retail TouchPoints

MARCH 1, 2024

Books-A-Million is celebrating National Read Across America Day by offering same-day delivery to locations nationwide. Powered by Walmart GoLocal , the service was initially launched last year and is part of the retailer’s broader focus on creating a frictionless ecommerce fulfillment experience for customers across the U.S. To place an order, customers can visit booksamillion.com and select the “Same-Day Delivery” option during checkout for thousands of in-stock products, including top-selling

Fulfillment 270

Fulfillment Checkout Location ATS 270

Retail TouchPoints

MARCH 1, 2024

Best Buy will leverage its membership-based loyalty program to sharpen personalization efforts for its 2025 fiscal year, which began Jan. 29, 2024. The retailer also plans to concentrate on updating and refreshing existing stores rather than opening new brick-and-mortar locations, as well as “improving and livening the merchandising presentation given the shift to digital shopping and corresponding lower need to hold as much inventory on the sales floor,” said Corie Barry, CEO, during a conferen

Planning 278

Planning Location Point of Sale Visual Merchandising 278

Retail TouchPoints

FEBRUARY 21, 2024

In a sign of its enormous role in both the U.S. and world economies, Amazon will join the exclusive “club” of 30 companies that make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), replacing Walgreens Boots Alliance. Additionally, Uber has been added to the Dow Jones Transportation Average, driving out JetBlue Airways. Both changes will be effective prior to the opening of trading on Feb. 26, 2024.

Consumer 275

Consumer 275

Retail TouchPoints

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Dollar General (DG) now offers fresh produce in more than 5,000 U.S. stores, giving the company more individual points of produce distribution than any other mass retailer or grocer in the country. DG stores that carry fresh produce are stocked with the top 20 produce items typically sold in traditional grocery stores, including tomatoes, onions, apples, strawberries, potatoes, sweet potatoes, lemons, limes and salad mixes.

Grocer 240

Grocer Management Consumer Merchandise Store 240

Retail TouchPoints

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Photo courtesy Anthropologie Photo courtesy Anthropologie Photo courtesy Anthropologie Photo courtesy Anthropologie Photo courtesy Anthropologie Photo courtesy Anthropologie Photo courtesy Anthropologie Anthropologie has teamed up with Pinterest to showcase some of the year’s biggest wedding trends alongside its Anthropologie Weddings bridal collection in a new pop-up in New York City.

Apparel 264

Apparel Shopping Consumer Fashion 264

Retail TouchPoints

JANUARY 23, 2024

Walmart will reportedly shut down its Store No. 8 innovation unit, according to the Wall Street Journal and other media outlets, as the retailer seeks to cut costs and find new ways to develop and test new ideas. The division, which was formed in 2017 following Walmart’s acquisition of Jet.com , has been the incubator for initiatives including shopping via text message and a recently released software development kit (SDK) to make it easier to integrate Walmart commerce into games and apps.

Shopping 279

Shopping Customer Experience ATS 279

Retail TouchPoints

JANUARY 23, 2024

Retail media has been all the rage for the last couple of years, and for good reason. For retailers accustomed to a 10% margin, the 80% to 90% margins of a retail media network are extremely appealing. For the buy side, as privacy regulations and browser changes have come down on the traditional mechanisms for attaching audience data to media, retail media represents a saving grace.

Advertising 257

Advertising Promotions Marketing Returns 257

Retail TouchPoints

DECEMBER 27, 2023

Returns totaled $743 billion in 2023, amounting to 14.5% of all retail sales, according to a report from the National Retail Federation and Appriss Retail. This means that for every $1 billion in sales, the average retailer incurred $145 million in merchandise returns. As is typically the case, online sales saw a higher return rate in 2023 at 17.6% compared to 10.02% for pure brick-and-mortar returns (excluding online orders that were returned in-store).

Returns 290

Returns Accounting Shopping ATS 290

Retail TouchPoints

DECEMBER 18, 2023

American Freight , the budget-friendly furniture, mattress and appliance retailer, has unveiled a revamped store design and experience in two Denver-area stores. The retailer upgraded its Centennial, Colo. store and applied its format and design to its new Westminster location. The updated store design includes elements that enhance the brand’s look and feel, product storytelling and overall customer service, including: A new color palette, interior and exterior signage and a new American Frei

Shopping 264

Shopping Location Planning Customer Experience 264

Retail TouchPoints

DECEMBER 18, 2023

Ulta Beauty will be the first retailer to pilot Luum Precision Lash ’s new technology, which uses a combination of robotics and AI to enable lash artists to apply false eyelashes faster and more comfortably. Lash extensions can take hours to apply, but Luum’s new technology promises to cut that down to less than 75 minutes for a full set, and the company hopes that continued advancement will get the process down to as short as 33 minutes in the near future.

ATS 258

ATS Customer Experience 258

Retail TouchPoints

DECEMBER 18, 2023

Peloton has named Lauren Weinberg as its new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), replacing Leslie Berland. Weinberg will report directly to CEO Barry McCarthy and oversee brand and product marketing, growth marketing, creative, consumer insights, membership and global communications. Weinberg brings 20+ years of experience as an insights-driven marketing leader, most recently at Intuit , where she served as SVP, Chief Marketing and Revenue Office for QuickBooks.

Marketing 264

Marketing Consumer Planning ATS 264

Retail TouchPoints

NOVEMBER 30, 2023

Link-building is one of the most vital — and underutilized — pieces of the ecommerce puzzle. How vital? According to this study by SEMrush , more than 92% of sites that make it to the top 100 are using backlinks. They also confirmed that most sites without backlinks will never reach page one. If you’re running ecommerce, link-building should be a key component in your strategy to increase traffic and revenue.

Marketing 278

Marketing Promotions Returns Social Commerce 278

Retail TouchPoints

NOVEMBER 30, 2023

The PepsiCo portfolio has evolved to include some of the most recognized, even beloved, food and beverage brands in the world. From the cola brand in its name to Lay’s , Cheetos and even Quaker , these brands have not only quenched our thirst and satiated our appetites; they have helped define our culture. The innate connections we have with food and beverage brands, especially those we have grown up with, create a built-in opportunity for companies like PepsiCo to drive customer retention and l

Consumer 303

Consumer Customer Retention Marketing Advertising 303

Retail TouchPoints

OCTOBER 30, 2023

As we navigate the complexities of global commerce, the need for efficient and transparent international transaction methods becomes increasingly apparent. One such payment option that has demonstrated its effectiveness in streamlining these transactions is Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC). DCC is an optional service offered at the point of sale, allowing customers to view the cost of their purchases in their home currency.

Merchant Services 291

Merchant Services Payment Services Point of Sale Consumer 291

Retail TouchPoints

OCTOBER 30, 2023

There’s a chill in the air but resale remains hot, with major brands — including Crocs , Beyond Yoga , Tommy Hilfiger Men’s and Maje jumping into the circularity movement. The influx of new secondhand offerings arrives just in time for a holiday season when consumers are largely expected to be more price-conscious than ever as they face continued economic pressures.

Apparel 268

Apparel Accessories Shipping Fashion 268

Retail TouchPoints

OCTOBER 30, 2023

FreshDirect has selected six NYC-area brands for its initial Rising Industry Producers and Entrepreneurs (R.I.P.E.) initiative, a one-year pilot program for food, beverage and personal care brands with retail ambitions. The emerging and diverse-owned companies will receive expert advice and be able to leverage internal FreshDirect resources to grow their brands, including help adapting strategies for ecommerce success and expanding their customer base in the tri-state area.

Management 263

Management Location Marketing ATS 263

Retail TouchPoints

OCTOBER 30, 2023

Unilever has sold subscription razor brand Dollar Shave Club to the U.S.-based private equity firm Nexus Capital Management for an undisclosed amount. Unilever will retain a 35% minority stake in the company after the sale closes later this year. The sale comes a little over seven years after Unilever bought the buzzy DTC brand for an estimated $1 billion.

Wholesale 279

Wholesale Management Marketing Consumer 279

Retail TouchPoints

AUGUST 28, 2023

Instacart has moved another step closer to an IPO, filing an S-1 form with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) but not providing information on how many shares the company plans to sell or at what price. Instacart had confidentially filed for an IPO in May 2022 but had not pursued it further until now. Additionally, marketing automation solution provider Klaviyo has filed an S-1 form for its IPO, also without specifying the number of shares it will offer or the stock’s price range.

Planning 246

Planning Marketing ATS Fulfillment 246

Retail TouchPoints

AUGUST 28, 2023

Rite Aid is reportedly preparing for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing that could take place within weeks, according to the Wall Street Journal. Quoting people familiar with the situation, the Journal reported that the move would help address the numerous lawsuits related to the retailer’s alleged role in the sale of opioids. Rite Aid provided no comment.

Store Operations 242

Store Operations Marketing 242

Retail TouchPoints

AUGUST 8, 2023

Photos courtesy of Holman Photos courtesy of Holman Photos courtesy of Holman Photos courtesy of Holman. Photos courtesy of Holman Photos courtesy of Holman Photos courtesy of Holman Photos courtesy of Holman Photos courtesy of Holman Photos courtesy of Holman Photos courtesy of Holman Photos courtesy of Holman Photos courtesy of Holman Photos courtesy of Holman Photos courtesy of Holman Photos courtesy of Holman Photos courtesy of Holman Photos courtesy of Holman Photos courtesy of Holman Photo

Boutique 245

Boutique Accessories Apparel Fashion 245

Retail TouchPoints

AUGUST 8, 2023

The online shopping industry has surpassed 2.6 billion digital shoppers in the first half of 2023, with 33% of the globe now considered an online shopper. That said, there is still substantial untapped opportunity within ecommerce, and one of the biggest barriers to online shopping is completely in control of the retailers themselves. Right now, retailers are selfishly positioning their customer journey to benefit their marketing efforts, not the end consumer.

Social Commerce 246

Social Commerce Consumer Shopping Accounting 246

Retail TouchPoints

AUGUST 8, 2023

Threads , Meta’s highly publicized “Twitter killer,” has seen dwindling engagement rates over the past few weeks. But that hasn’t stopped brands of all sizes and across categories from building out their presence on the app. Daily active user count was down 82% from launch as of July 31, according to Sensor Tower, with just eight million users tapping into the app every day.

Beauty and Health 245

Beauty and Health Consumer Marketing Social Commerce 245

Retail TouchPoints

AUGUST 8, 2023

Save A Lot has relicensed its 18 remaining corporate-owned supermarkets, completing its strategy of shifting ownership and operations of all locations to independent licensed ownership. These St. Louis-area stores are being acquired by Leevers Supermarkets , a current Save A Lot partner with 29 stores, and they will continue to operate under the Save A Lot banner.

Wholesale 244

Wholesale Supermarket Grocer Location 244

Retail TouchPoints

AUGUST 7, 2023

Digital marketplaces help you provide the personalization customers have come to expect, and in today’s crowded ecommerce space, the customer experience has never been more important. Global ecommerce sales are projected to exceed $7 trillion by 2025. While company web stores are essential, digital marketplaces take simple sales to the next level by offering businesses more opportunities to engage with customers.

Customer Experience 246

Customer Experience Customer Retention Marketing Shopping 246

Retail TouchPoints

JULY 20, 2023

Retail marketing lives and dies by one main principle: the voice of the brand. Once in a while it hits a mainstream nerve, forever changing culture, like the magic of Nike’s “Just Do It” or Dove’s “Like a Girl,” and other provocative, inspiring messages that literally helped build some of the world’s most successful commercial empires. Retailers understand the importance of a distinct brand voice and how that connects to long-term customer loyalty — but generative AI is changing the game.

Outdoor 186

Outdoor Marketing Consumer Retail Marketing 186

Retail TouchPoints

JULY 20, 2023

Signet Jewelers is expanding the Zales jewelry rental program powered by Rocksbox , which Signet acquired in 2021. Targeted to customers looking to gear up for special occasions and weddings, the Zales x Rocksbox fine jewelry rental service debuted in May at a select number of stores and is now available at 50 Zales locations across the U.S. “The Zales x Rocksbox Fine Jewelry Rental program is a milestone launch as we come together with Rocksbox to offer customers a try-before-you-buy rent

Jewelry 183

Jewelry Location Shopping ATS 183

Retail TouchPoints

JULY 20, 2023

Moving closer to its goal of opening 100 stores during fiscal 2023, Ross Stores opened 18 Ross Dress for Less and nine dd’s Discounts stores across 14 states in June and July. The value retailer now operates 2,061 stores in 41 states, the District of Columbia and Guam. “These recent openings reflect our ongoing plans to continue building our presence in both existing and newer markets,” said Gregg McGillis, Group EVP, Property Development at Ross Stores in a statement.

Location 189

Location Discount Store Planning Marketing 189

Retail TouchPoints

JULY 19, 2023

Website SaaS platform Wix.com has unveiled plans for a new AI Site Generator along with a suite of AI-powered capabilities, many of which are already available to users. These offerings will equip Wix users with AI technology designed to significantly streamline the entire website building, design and management process. Features already available to users include an AI text creator, domain generator, image creator, background removal and image enhancement tools.

Management 242

Management Planning 242

Retail TouchPoints

JULY 19, 2023

According to a 2022 analysis , the turnover rate for hourly in-store retail positions is 75.8%. In addition, 63% of frontline retail managers are thinking about leaving their roles soon — and some even said they want to leave the industry entirely. The onus is now on HQ — executive leaders specifically — to ensure they’re investing in their store communities.

Customer Experience 223

Customer Experience Management Consumer Store Operations 223

Retail TouchPoints

JULY 19, 2023

Using its 1,700+ stores to support fast fulfillment, Lowe’s has expanded same-day delivery services across the U.S. in partnership with OneRail. Orders placed on Lowes.com or the retailer’s mobile app by 2 p.m. local time will be delivered that day; orders placed after 2 p.m. will be delivered the following day. The retailer began piloting same-day delivery with OneRail in select markets in 2022.

Fulfillment 243

Fulfillment Shopping Marketing Store Operations 243