Mon.Apr 22, 2024

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Myer sacks head office staff, outsourcing tech roles to India

Inside Retail

Department store Myer has laid off head office staff across its e-commerce and operations teams as it offshores functions to India. A Myer employee who requested anonymity told Inside Retail that Myer’s GM of e-commerce Lynna Barnard and chief customer officer Geoff Ikin oversaw the decision to implement the redundancies, which due to their suddenness left employees shocked.

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Ikea Creates Training Ecosystem to Support AI Literacy for 3,500 Employees

Retail TouchPoints

Ingka Group , parent company of Ikea Retail , has set ambitious targets for boosting the AI literacy of its organization, including AI training for approximately 3,000 employees and 500 executives. The initiative will include a variety of courses, tailored to the needs of employees at various levels and in different phases of their AI journeys, with the overall goal of embedding a deep understanding of AI within the organization and ensuring that Ikea values are reflected in the ways the technol

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Coffee chain Single O expanding Japanese footprint after early success

Inside Retail

Sydney-based coffee roaster Single O will open Ryogoku Roastworks, its second cafe in Japan on Friday, replacing the brand’s existing roastery. In a further sign of ongoing expansion in Japan, Single O will launch its Shibuya coffee bar in July. The new roastery and cafe will serve Single O’s signature coffee Reservoir and will feature self-serve batch brew taps, and a breakfast and lunch menu.

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JLL Rolls Out Virtual ‘Shopping Bestie’ in 13 Centers

Retail TouchPoints

JLL Retail Property Management has introduced a new virtual shopper agent named Cindy , designed to make the online experience more relevant and engaging at 13 of its shopping centers across the U.S. In addition to spotlighting the center’s sales and deals, Cindy gives consumers details on the latest fashion trends, acting as their exclusive “shopping bestie.

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Turn Payments Into Personalization: Unlock the Value of Transaction Data

Speaker: Loreal Lynch, Everett Zufelt, and Michaela Weber

Once upon a time, in the vast realm of online commerce, there lived a humble checkout button overlooked by many. Yet, within its humble click lay the power to transform a mere visitor into a loyal customer. 🧐 💡 Getting checkout right can mark the difference between a successful sale and an abandoned cart, yet many businesses fail to make payments a part of their commerce strategy even when it has a direct impact on revenue.

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Myer sacks 50 head office staff, outsourcing tech roles to India

Inside Retail

Department store Myer has reportedly fired more than 50 head office staff across its digital, IT, and e-commerce teams as it offshores their functions to India. A Myer employee who requested anonymity told Inside Retail that Myer’s GM of e-commerce Lynna Barnard and chief customer officer Geoff Ikin oversaw the decision to implement the redundancies, which due to their suddenness left employees shocked.

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Wrangler, M&S, Anthropologie and More Mark Earth Day with New Sustainability Initiatives

Retail TouchPoints

Brands have been touting their green credentials and launching new initiatives all month in the leadup to Earth Day, and those efforts have peaked now that that April 22 has arrived. Among the brands that saved their announcements for the day itself are Kering , Marks & Spencer , Wrangler , Asics and Anthropologie , all of which showcased new partnerships and initiatives today for the benefit of the planet.

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After 25 Years, a Rebrand is Just the Beginning for Edible

Retail TouchPoints

Twenty-five years ago, Tariq Farid saw some fruit displayed in a unique way at an event. He turned the idea into a business — and Edible Arrangements into a household name. But his daughter, Somia Farid Silber, who’s now the company’s President, isn’t coasting on the company’s past success — she’s too busy thinking about the next 25 years. Somia Farid Silber, President, Edible (Image courtesy Edible) Farid Silber was six when Edible Arrangements was founded, and the company is so engrained in he

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Pink Sues Pharrell Williams Over ‘P.Inc’ Trademark

Retail Wire

Pink has filed a lawsuit against Pharrell Williams to prevent his plans to trademark the term "P.Inc.

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To Make Merger More Palatable, Kroger and Albertsons Boost Store Divestment Count

Retail TouchPoints

Facing regulatory challenges to their proposed $24.6 billion merger, Kroger and Albertsons have increased the number of supermarkets they plan to divest by 166 , for a total of 579 stores. The retailers also have increased the corporate and office infrastructure they would sell to C&S Wholesale Grocers , as well as additional private label product lines, for a total of approximately $2.9 billion in cash — nearly 50% more than the $1.9 billion price tag of the previous package.

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Microsoft’s Latest AI Animates Faces To Bring Photos to Life

Retail Wire

Microsoft researchers revealed a new AI generator with the ability to transform a static face image and an audio recording of speech into a lifelike video of the person speaking.

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Get MACH Ready: Preparing Your Business for Digital Transformation

Adopting MACH technology means more than implementing new platforms. This type of digital change affects your organization at every level and requires a thoughtful approach to navigate challenges that crop up. The Get MACH Ready report, co-authored by MACH Alliance member Scott Canney in collaboration with Orium, commercetools, and Contentstack, will provide you with strategies to prepare your organization for a digital transformation.

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Coffee and home delivery: How food-service spending is changing in Apac

Inside Retail

According to a recent Euromonitor report, while consumer food-service value nears pre-pandemic levels in 2024, dining-in at restaurants will not return to pre-pandemic level until 2028 in Asia Pacific. Apac’s food-service spending surpassed pre-Covid levels in 2024, as revenues grew 12 per cent to more than US$1.2 trillion in 2023. The food-service segment includes restaurants, bars, cafes, fast food and home delivery services.

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Express Files for Bankruptcy to Facilitate Sale to WHP

Retail TouchPoints

A consortium led by Toys ‘R’ Us owner WHP Global that includes mall operators Simon Property Group and Brookfield Properties has offered to buy a “substantial majority” of Express, Inc.’s retail stores and operations. In order to facilitate the sale and free up the liquidity needed to continue operations during the process, Express has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

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A guide to choosing the right security solution for your retail business

Inside Retail

Security cameras and access control systems are a vital layer of protection that all retailers should consider when it comes to store loss prevention strategies. Retail video security cameras : Working 24/7, IP security cameras capture video that helps security teams ensure employee safety, prevent theft and assist with liability claims. On-premise or cloud-based security cameras : You can choose between two types of security camera systems: an on-premise system and a cloud-based system.

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JetBlue’s Ex-CEO Robin Hayes Takes the Helm at Airbus Americas

Retail Wire

Robin Hayes, the former CEO of JetBlue, is set to lead Airbus Americas. He steps into the role vacated by Jeff Knittel, who recently retired. Hayes served as JetBlue's CEO for nine years before resigning on Feb. 12.

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How Retailers Are Transforming Customer Experiences with Data & AI

Speaker: David Azoulay, Marc Stracuzza, Román Tejada, and Guest Speaker Sucharita Kodali

Imagine a retail landscape where every interaction is personalized, every decision informed, and every opportunity maximized 🤔✨ Join us for an exploratory journey into the heart of AI-driven retail innovation. We’ll unveil the transformative potential of AI and data analytics in shaping the future of omnichannel personalization and e-commerce.

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Express files Chapter 11, plans to close over 100 stores

Retail Dive

All of the company’s UpWest stores will shutter as the retailer pursues a sale to WHP Global, Simon Property Group and Brookfield Properties.

Planning 132
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TikTok Faces EU Ban and Fines Over TikTok Lite

Retail Wire

European Union officials are considering hefty fines and the suspension of TikTok Lite due to concerns about its addictive features. TikTok Lite is a scaled-down version of TikTok that offers users cash rewards for engaging with the app.

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Selfridges targeted by Middle East and Chinese investors amid ownership battle

Retail Gazette

Selfridges is being circled by Middle East and Chinese investors as the financial troubles of the department store’s Austrian co-owner Signa spark an ownership battle. Fellow co-owner, Thai conglomerate Central Group, wants to buy out Signa’s remaining stake in the department store chain with another partner and is in talks with several sovereign wealth funds and tycoons about a potential partnership, the Times reports.

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Oregon’s Market of Choice Embraces Sustainable Dry Farming

Retail Wire

In a significant step toward sustainability, Oregon’s family-owned Market of Choice has teamed up with the Dry Farming Institute to boost dry farming practices in the region.

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Forrester Report: Demystifying The Technical Functions of POS Solutions

Understanding the intricate world of Point-of-Sale (POS) technology is a common challenge for tech buyers. When it comes to defining the functions of Point-of-Sale systems, the communications have yet to be standardized–—until now. Forrester’s new report, Demystifying The Technical Functions of POS Solutions, breaks through the noise and provides business leaders with the information and tools they need to evaluate the features of POS systems.

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M&S trials postal donation bags for ‘unwearable’ clothes

Retail Gazette

M&S is encouraging customers to donate their used clothes via a postal donation bag as part of its tie-up with Oxfam. The fashion retailer is trailing the option for consumers to send their unwearable clothes from any label using a pre-paid postal donation bag that is left with a local courier that the charity can then resell, reuse, or recycle.

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Buro Happold Details Sustainable Projects for Earth Day

Retail Wire

As Earth Day arrives, the UK firm Buro Happold has shared the sustainable projects that they have been involved in, highlighting efforts to create a more sustainable world.

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THG growth driven by ‘standout’ beauty arm performance

Retail Gazette

THG has posted strong sales growth in the first quarter of 2024, which it said was led by a “standout performance” across its beauty divison. The Cult Beauty and LookFantastic owner saw a 4.5% jump in revenue compared to the previous year as total sales edged up 0.3% on a continuing basis, reaching £459.9m. THG Beauty sales surged 11.1%, driven by a “notably strong” performance in the UK.

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Nationwide Health Alert for E. Coli in Greater Omaha Ground Beef

Retail Wire

There is no recall for this product. It should be thrown away or returned to point of purchase.

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Mapping Digital Transformation: Retail’s Strategic Shift

Speaker: Jennifer Wright, Michael Scholz, Jasmin Guthmann, and Scott Canney

Digital transformation in retail is so much more than new technology. You need to get your whole organization, from entry-level workers to executives, on board with the new tech, new skills, and culture changes that digital transformation brings. Leading this mindset shift can be a daunting task… but that’s where this webinar comes in! Join our panel of experts as they guide you through the challenges of digital transformation, preparing you to avoid common mistakes and make the most of incredib

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Second phase of Nike layoffs to hit Oregon headquarters this summer

Retail Dive

After the job cuts, effective June 28, about 740 employees will have been impacted in the retailer’s home state.

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Mall Retailer Express Files for US Bankruptcy Protection

Retail Wire

The retailer is expected to close almost 100 stores nationwide.

Fashion 130
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Customers Praise the Surprising Longevity and Adaptability of Cisco UCS

Cisco Retail

When we introduced our first compute platform in 2009 with Cisco UCS B-Series Blade Servers , there was a fair amount of snickering from industry watchers and established server vendors.

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Lowe’s taps DoorDash for on-demand deliveries

Retail Dive

Products can be purchased directly on the DoorDash app and the move is a way to “reach new DIY customers,” the home improvement retailer said.

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The Personalization Playbook: 2024 Strategies

Did you know—74% of IT leaders are looking to improve their tech stack to offer better personalization? It’s impossible to ignore the importance of personalization, but it comes with challenges. How do you do it with a tight budget? What about customer privacy and the use of data? The Personalization Playbook is packed with research and insights from Orium, Talon.One, and Bloomreach and gives IT leaders answers to these tough questions, helping them shape 2024 strategies for personalization.

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Find Your Path to Unmatched Security and Unified Experiences

Cisco Retail

Imagine juggling multiple remotes for your entertainment system, each controlling a different device and requiring endless button presses to achieve a simple task.

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Figs recycled over 40K healthcare professional’s scrubs in trade-in program

Retail Dive

The “Scrubs That Don’t Suck” campaign launched April 1 and ends on Earth Day as the brand hit its participation goal.

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New Cisco Defense Orchestrator (CDO) API

Cisco Retail

Cisco Defense Orchestrator (CDO) provides a powerful REST API to automate and simplify security management tasks. You can find CDO API Documentation on DevNet.

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Win the Digital Shelf with Digital Shelf Optimization

Wiser

In eCommerce, winning the digital shelf isn’t just about being visible; it’s about mastering the art of digital shelf optimization. This strategy is pivotal for sustainable, profitable growth in the online marketplace. But what does digital shelf optimization really entail and how can it make a difference to your brand? The Cost of Ignoring Digital Shelf Optimization Before diving into strategies, it’s crucial to understand the cost of neglecting digital shelf optimization.

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How Personalized Customer Experiences Drive Retail Growth and Revenue

Speaker: Shaunna Bruton - Associate Director of Product Strategy at Orium | Sam Panzer - Director of Industry Strategy at Talon.One | Frank Passantino - Director of Product Management at Bloomreach

More and more, customers are expecting a better personalized CX. But can retailers actually deliver? Data from McKinsey shows that companies that excel in personalization increase their revenue by 40%, but despite these numbers, retailers struggle to implement customer personalization strategies. So what are the potential solutions? Join us to gain a better understanding of the current retail landscape and learn what you can do to translate personalization strategies into practical implementatio