Retail TouchPoints

MAY 6, 2025

Nike has made significant structural and personnel changes at the top of its organization. The footwear companys Consumer, Product and Brand leadership, formerly under the direction of President Heidi ONeill, will now be divided into three distinct areas: Consumer and Sport, Marketing, and Product Creation, inclusive of Innovation and Design. All these roles will report to Nike President and CEO Elliott Hill, who took this position in September 2024.

Promotions 179

Promotions Marketing Returns Consumer 179

Retail TouchPoints

MAY 6, 2025

Google has made headlines once again by announcing a significant shift to its approach to digital privacy. Rather than eliminating online cookies or offering users an opt-out option in Chrome, the tech giant has committed to maintaining cookies as a core part of its browser functionality. Since Google introduced the Privacy Sandbox initiative in 2019, the digital marketing landscape has undergone a significant transformation.

Marketing 165

Marketing Advertising Planning Management 165

Retail TouchPoints

MAY 2, 2025

Payment providers are banking on the fact that millions of people will soo n rely on AI to find the perfect sweater, research a new vacation spot or handle their weekly grocery shopping and they want in on the action. While the idea of AI handling these kinds of complicated tasks autonomously might sound like something out of a science fiction novel, agentic AI is rapidly moving toward this reality.

Payment Services 173

Payment Services Merchant Services Consumer Checkout 173

Retail TouchPoints

MAY 1, 2025

Amazon will invest $4 billion to enhance rural delivery capabilities, a move that will expand the number of rural delivery stations to 200 and create an estimated 100,000 new jobs. When the expansion is complete, Amazon will be able to deliver 1 billion additional packages annually to customers living in 13,000 zip codes spanning 1.2 million square miles an area the size of Alaska, California and Texas combined.

Fulfillment 162

Fulfillment Planning Consumer Shopping 162

Retail TouchPoints

MAY 1, 2025

Instacart has purchased Wynshop , which provides ecommerce solutions to retailers including Wakefern and Pattison. Instacart has increasingly been focusing on physical stores and digitizing the in-store experience, expanding beyond its roots in grocery delivery. Financial information about the acquisition was not disclosed. Our deep integration with retailers and our leading technologies are critical advantages for Instacart, said Chris Rogers, Chief Business Officer at Instacart in a statement.

Fulfillment 173

Fulfillment Advertising Shopping ATS 173

Retail TouchPoints

MAY 1, 2025

A brand new Store of the Future concept store, a thrift shop operated by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), opens today in Scotlands capital Edinburgh, and its a model of both charity and sustainability. For example, the cash desk countertop is produced using waste textile direct from the BHFs 675 shops across the UK. Waste plastic, bubble wrap and plastic bags are being formed to manufacture unique lampshades above the cash desk, and the stores entire lighting system is produced via a 3D print

Accessories 147

Accessories Accounting Shopping Location 147

Retail TouchPoints

APRIL 30, 2025

JCPenney has partnered with plus-size supermodel and entrepreneur Ashley Graham to create a namesake collection for full-figured women that is scheduled to launch this fall. The retailer has consistently offered products designed for a range of body types, andall of its private label brands are offered in extended sizes. Graham, who made history as the first size 14 model to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swim in 2016, has advocated for self-acceptance and female empowerment as s

Apparel 218

Apparel Fashion Customer Experience ATS 218

Retail TouchPoints

APRIL 28, 2025

Logistics and transportation provider Ryder System will air Stories from the Supply Chain, a national TV ad campaign spotlighting successes with apparel brand Mugsy and alcoholic beverage distributor Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits. The campaign launches today and will air through June 22, 2025 on ESPN, TBS and TNT throughout the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs.

Fulfillment 207

Fulfillment Apparel Marketing Management 207

Retail TouchPoints

APRIL 23, 2025

Since 2019, Google has been working on plans to eliminate, or at least minimize, the use of digital tracking cookies on its popular Chrome browser, but now the Privacy Sandbox initiative seems to have run its course. Google has announced that it will maintain its current position, offering users third-party cookie choice in Chromes privacy and security settings, but will not roll out a standalone prompt for these cookies.

Planning 222

Planning ATS Customer Experience Consumer 222

Retail TouchPoints

APRIL 22, 2025

Nestled in a back parking lot of the industrial waterfront that lines Brooklyns Gowanus Canal is an absolutely fantastic thrift store of the old school a sprawling warehouse filled to the brim with used goods organized in a somewhat jumbled manner by general category. Big Reuse s unassuming exterior blends in perfectly with the loading docks, storage facilities and various trade businesses in the area, but that bare-bones faade belies a veritable treasure trove within.

Thrift Store 165

Thrift Store Clienteling Merchant Services Point of Sale 165

Retail TouchPoints

APRIL 17, 2025

Michaels is stepping into the gap left by the recent demise of Party City with plans to add 500 new party supply products, additional balloon options and enhancements to its in-store events. The party supplies assortment enlargement, both in stores and online, will begin in August 2025. The 300+ new balloon options include premade balloon bouquets, including graduation arrangements, along with all the accessories needed to complete a balloon display such as weight stands, ribbon and helium tanks

Accessories 262

Accessories Planning Shopping Store Operations 262

Retail TouchPoints

APRIL 11, 2025

For 2025 and beyond, the emphasis on change in strategy to ensure a healthy consumer base for UK retailers is, unsurprisingly, requiring retail leaders to invest more in digital retail than ever before. Retail sales, adjusted for the inclusion of Black Friday, fell by 0.3% month-on-month in December , as reported by the ONS (Office for National Statistics), despite initial predictions.

Payment Services 237

Payment Services Point of Sale Clienteling Customer Experience 237

Retail TouchPoints

APRIL 9, 2025

With the help of AI, the shopping experience on the Etsy app has been reimagined to offer a more inspiring, personalized shopping experience. Too often, shopping online feels like dj vu , said Nick Daniel, Chief Product Officer at Etsy in a blog post. Weve all been there youre searching for a shirt or a lamp and suddenly you find yourself sorting through nearly identical items across the internet that blur into a sea of sameness.

Shopping 259

Shopping Customer Experience ATS 259

Retail TouchPoints

APRIL 3, 2025

QVC is working hard to revamp its image while staying true to its roots. Late last year the company changed its name from Qurate Retail Group to QVC Group , bringing its biggest brand to the forefront. Now QVC wants to shed its TV roots and become known instead as a live social shopping company, and its first big move is a new deal with TikTok Shop that will see the OG home shopping network host 24/7 live shopping streams on TikTok that viewers can join via the app any time, day or night.

Shopping 257

Shopping Planning Merchant Services Consumer 257

Retail TouchPoints

APRIL 3, 2025

Target has partnered with Kate Spade New York to create an extensive limited-time collection of more than 300 fashion, home and entertaining products. Launching April 12, more than half the collection will be priced at $15 or less, with prices starting at $5. The Kate Spade New York x Target collection includes womens, kids and baby apparel with extended sizing and adaptive styles, handbags, home accessories and party essentials like dcor, stationery and more.

Sporting Goods 270

Sporting Goods Accessories Apparel Fashion 270

Retail TouchPoints

APRIL 2, 2025

Look around. Smartphones are practically an extension of our hands. Were bombarded by thousands of digital messages daily, and cutting through the noise has never been more challenging. Yet despite the digital deluge, one channel continues to surprise marketers with its ability to connect, resonate and engage. You guessed it, mail. Combine it with the precision and scale of digital and youve got a recipe for audience engagement thats as powerful as it is personal.

Marketing 284

Marketing ATS Customer Experience Shopping 284

Retail TouchPoints

APRIL 1, 2025

GoodwillFinds.com , the online marketplace operated as an affiliate of Goodwill Industries , appears to have ceased operations. A message on the platforms homepage states that the site has stopped accepting orders as of March 28, and redirects customers to the auction-style resale site ShopGoodwill.com. Complicated Competitive Dynamics GoodwillFinds.com was launched in October 2022 in a bid by the 120 -year-old thrift store chain to grab a larger piece of the growing online resale market.

Thrift Store 267

Thrift Store Shipping Fulfillment Consumer 267

Retail TouchPoints

MARCH 26, 2025

CVS is one of the largest retailers in the U.S. by store count, with more than 9,000 locations across the country. And while a consistent experience is important for the chain, increasingly, the pharmacy retailer is working to create a store environment that caters to each local community individually. Visualization of CVS’s store footprint across the country; the darker the red, the more dense the store penetration.

Beauty and Health 225

Beauty and Health Sporting Goods Location Merchandise Store 225

Retail TouchPoints

MARCH 20, 2025

Ollies Bargain Outlet has acquired 40 former Big Lots stores, jumpstarting its plans to open 75 new stores by February 2026. Other low-price retailers have been buying stores from the now-bankrupt Big Lots; in December 2024 Variety Wholesalers announced plans to purchase 200 to 400 Big Lots stores in the wake of the retailers September 2024 voluntary Chapter 11 filing.

Planning 261

Planning Location Wholesale Returns 261

Retail TouchPoints

MARCH 20, 2025

These days it seems everyone is an AI company whether the goal is boosting SEO or sales or just general prestige, any company that is able to has tacked AI somewhere onto their name or tagline. Stitch Fix , however, has resisted that urge, despite having been an AI-centered company from its inception 14 years ago. In fact, while others look for ways to work AI into every sentence, Stitch Fix has decided to shine the spotlight on something else its human stylists.

Returns 279

Returns Fashion Shipping Shopping 279

Retail TouchPoints

MARCH 14, 2025

Microsoft has partnered with Curated for You to incorporate AI-powered fashion suggestions into everyday conversations in its AI assistant, Copilot. Microsoft Copilot is an AI-powered tool that integrates with various Microsoft applications and services including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams and the Microsoft Edge browser offering users a conversational chat interface to generate content, provide insights and automate tasks.

Fashion 251

Fashion Consumer Shopping Planning 251

Retail TouchPoints

MARCH 14, 2025

Its no secret that attracting and keeping retail talent is becoming ever more difficult. To tackle this challenge, luxury giant LVMH s North American division has taken its recruiting efforts straight to the source colleges and universities. At LVMH, we believe that our people are our greatest asset, and the longevity of our brands depends on attracting the most talented and passionate individuals , said Gena Smith, Chief Human Resources Officer at LVMH North America in comments shared with Ret

Visual Merchandising 213

Visual Merchandising Employee Engagement Customer Experience Fulfillment 213

Retail TouchPoints

MARCH 12, 2025

Ross Stores plans to open approximately 90 new stores in FY 2025, comprised of about 80 stores under the Ross Dress for Less banner and 10 dds Discounts locations. The discount retailer kicked off its fiscal year, which ends in February 2026, with a total of 19 store openings in March 2025. This spring, we continued to expand the store base of both Ross and dds, said Richard Lietz, EVP, Property Development at Ross Stores in a statement.

Location 273

Location Planning Marketing Consumer 273

Retail TouchPoints

MARCH 12, 2025

In his first earnings cycle at the helm , Kohls new CEO Ashley Buchanan laid out his plan to turn around the embattled company, which has struggled for years to return to a position of strength while fending off activist investors. Ashley Buchanan, CEO, Kohl’s (Image courtesy Kohl’s) Like his predecessors , Buchanan said he sees plenty of opportunity for the company but that a turnaround will take time, indicating that the goal of the actions being taken in 2025 will lay a groundwork

Store Layout 267

Store Layout Promotions Jewelry Department Stores 267

Retail TouchPoints

MARCH 12, 2025

Its no secret that brand loyalty is eroding amid increasing price sensitivity and digital overload. While personalized engagement tactics may have been a nice-to-have in years past, in this current environment they are now a necessity. To meet this challenge head on, DSW set out to deepen its consumer connections and create experiences that drove meaningful engagement with the help of personalization platform Moveable Ink.

Marketing 260

Marketing Consumer Management ATS 260

Retail TouchPoints

MARCH 11, 2025

Looking to increase brand engagement, boost awareness and grow customer loyalty? It might be time to run a brand sweepstakes! By offering participants a chance to win a fun prize through this type of consumer promotion, you can create excitement for your brand, attract new customers and keep existing consumers coming back for more. But to plan a successful sweepstakes, youll need more than just an enticing prize.

Promotions 246

Promotions Consumer Fulfillment Advertising 246

Retail TouchPoints

MARCH 7, 2025

FreshDirect is partnering with Uber Eats to expand its delivery reach in New York City. This is the online grocers first entry into on-demand delivery via a third-party app. FreshDirect works directly with local farmers, fishermen, growers, distillers and food manufacturers to streamline the supply chain, ensuring products reach customers faster up to seven days fresher than traditional grocery stores.

Grocer 232

Grocer Fulfillment Customer Experience 232

Retail TouchPoints

MARCH 7, 2025

Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) has finalized a deal with private equity firm Sycamore Partners to take the company private after being in the stock market for nearly 100 years. Sycamore will pay $11.45 per share in cash for the Walgreens business, according to a company announcement. Shareholders can receive up to $3 more per share in the future from sales of Walgreens’ primary business, including Village Medial, Summit Health and City MD.

Management 232

Management Marketing Location Consumer 232

Retail TouchPoints

MARCH 7, 2025

Discounts are a staple of the retail landscape. But just because discounts are popular doesnt mean theyre smart. Consider: A big discount will likely bring customers through the door, but will they come back? Not only do discounts tend to de-value a product in a customers mind , they also train the customer to expect that lower price. Even as a discount helps a business move product, its also cutting into sales revenue and margins.

Payment Services 262

Payment Services Promotions Checkout Planning 262

Retail TouchPoints

MARCH 5, 2025

After years of teasing out the impending deprecation of third-party cookies, it turns out Google is keeping cookies after all. While marketers can breathe easy now, the industry still has every reason to limit their reliance on third-party cookies and prioritize efforts to adapt to new ways of tracking and measuring user behavior. This presents dynamic challenges and opportunities for retail media networks in particular, as the readiness of retail media measurement remains under a microscope.

Advertising 238

Advertising Marketing Consumer ATS 238

Retail TouchPoints

MARCH 4, 2025

Starbucks has named Cathy Smith as its new CFO, replacing the departing Rachel Ruggeri in the latest leadership change at the coffee retailer since September 2024 , when Brian Niccol joined the company as CEO. The previous CEO, Laxman Narasimhan, stepped down in August 2024 after less than two years on the job. Tressie Lieberman, who had worked with Niccol at his former company, Chipotle , joined Starbucks as Global Chief Marketing Officer in October 2024 , and in January 2025 , Mike Grams and M

Finance 236

Finance Planning Marketing ATS 236

Retail TouchPoints

MARCH 4, 2025

Inflation and economic uncertainty have put pressure on retailers to find creative ways to protect margins while staying competitive. Dynamic pricing – a strategy that adjusts prices based on demand, competition and other market factors in real time – is becoming an increasingly popular solution. Retailers use it to stay agile, ensuring their prices remain competitive while optimizing revenue and profitability.

Grocer 216

Grocer Advertising Management Marketing 216

Retail TouchPoints

MARCH 4, 2025

When retailers discover that a particular product isnt selling as well as it normally does, there are many potential explanations. Is there a new, similar product on a nearby shelf thats priced for less, or one thats being heavily promoted by the manufacturer? If its a new product, has it been placed in the correct aisle? Is it placed near enough to eye level for shoppers to easily find it?

Promotions 266

Promotions Management Visual Merchandising Location 266

Retail TouchPoints

FEBRUARY 26, 2025

Following the bankruptcy of Quiksilver store operator Liberated Brands earlier this month, Quiksilver owner Authentic Brands Group has moved swiftly to ensure that Quiksilver-branded apparel is still available to consumers. Authentic has tapped Velocity Global Brands to take on the design, manufacturing and distribution of Quiksilver womens apparel across the U.S. and Canada.

Wholesale 268

Wholesale Apparel Store Operations Management 268

Retail TouchPoints

FEBRUARY 26, 2025

Ecommerce cybersecurity and fraud prevention are almost always handled by different teams, but that doesnt mean theyre completely independent activities. When customer data is exposed in a cyberattack, criminals can use it to commit fraud. Fraudsters can steal employee credentials to expose customer data. Both kinds of incidents affect the bottom line and both can impact the companys image with customers.

Payment Services 236

Payment Services Returns Accounting Shipping 236

Retail TouchPoints

FEBRUARY 25, 2025

Capri Holdings will deploy the iD Cloud RFID solution from Nedap across all its Alcott and Gutteridge banners, covering stores in Italy, Austria, Germany, Spain, Greece, Armenia and UAE. The initial phase of the rollout will focus on optimizing in-store operations and customer experience, followed by the implementation of loss prevention and supply chain solutions.

Loss Prevention 240

Loss Prevention Fast Fashion Marketing Store Operations 240

Retail TouchPoints

FEBRUARY 25, 2025

The Lovesac Company is partnering with global nonprofit Habitat for Humanity to provide sustainable furniture to homes at a more accessible price point. With its proprietary Designed for Life approach , Lovesac has developed a reputation for designing, manufacturing and selling comfortable and high-quality accent chairs, sectionals and its namesake sacs.

Store Operations 227

Store Operations Location ATS Customer Experience 227