Fri.Apr 22, 2022

article thumbnail

During #RICE22, Attendees Can Dive Deep, Go Broad or Both

Retail TouchPoints

Perhaps you’re laser-focused on discovering ways to maximize ecommerce revenue; perhaps you seek store designs that promote experiential retail, but on a budget; or maybe you want to determine whether live shopping and the metaverse are a fit for your business. Good news: you can satisfy your curiosity on these and dozens of other topics in one place, the 2022 Retail Innovation Conference & Expo , coming up May 10-12 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

article thumbnail

Number of Americans collecting jobless benefits hits 50-year low

Retail Wire

The number of Americans collecting jobless aid fell to about 1.42 million last week. The last time the number was that low was in February of 1970. The Labor Department said jobless claims inched down to 184,000 last week.

189
189
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Cardboard Bears to Ocean Plastic Watches: 4 Unique Ways Companies are Innovating Sustainability

Retail TouchPoints

Almost every retailer has a plan to green its operations, from sourcing more sustainable products to adopting solar power, and on Earth Day these efforts are brought to the forefront. At a time when 84% of companies have incorporated corporate social responsibility into their business strategies, it can be hard to develop programs that stand out as truly unique.

Consumer 289
article thumbnail

By Land, Sea and Space: How 5 Startups Are Using AI to Help Save the Planet

Nvidia

Different parts of the globe are experiencing distinct climate challenges — severe drought, dangerous flooding, reduced biodiversity or dense air pollution. The challenges are so great that no country can solve them on their own. But innovative startups worldwide are lighting the way, demonstrating how these daunting challenges can be better understood and addressed with AI.

article thumbnail

A Roadmap For Modernization: How To Break Free From Your Monolith Before July 31, 2026

Speaker: Jason Cottrell and Gireesh Sahukar

Retailers know the clock is ticking–legacy SAP Commerce support ends in 2026. Legacy platforms are becoming a liability burdened by complexity, rigidity, and mounting operational costs. But modernization isn’t just about swapping out systems, it’s about preparing for a future shaped by real-time interactions, AI powered buying assistants, and flexible commerce architecture.

article thumbnail

Starboard Cruise Services Launches Luxury-Focused Retail Cruise

Retail TouchPoints

Starboard Cruise Services , LVMH Moët Hennessy and Celebrity Cruises are launching an immersive luxury shopping experience onboard the cruise ship Celebrity Beyond. The curated vacation will embark from Southampton, UK on April 27, 2022 and include retail offerings that showcase notable fashion brands, wellness collaborations and sustainable offerings on its voyage to Western Europe.

Boutique 289
article thumbnail

How to Make Coherent Optics Small and Pluggable: Cisco Optics Podcast Episode 23 notes

Cisco Retail

Episode 23 of the Cisco Optics Podcast is now posted! See below for episode notes. Podcast episodes are now being added to the Cisco Optics playlist on YouTube ! Cisco Optics Podcast Episode 23. Cisco Optics Podcast Episode 23. How to Make Coherent Optics Small and Pluggable, with Tom Williams. Part 4 of 5. Coherent optics have been the go-to solution for high-end optical transport systems for years.

More Trending

article thumbnail

Cisco Extends Service Discovery to WAN Using Bonjour and Adds App on Cisco DNA Center

Cisco Retail

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) is now common in enterprises, especially in vertical industries like education and healthcare. So service discovery?the ability to automatically detect devices and services on networks and to set policies to safeguard networks?has become vital. . There are many service-discovery protocols and techniques available that have been used for various use cases.

article thumbnail

Scams Retailers Should Be Watching Out for This Spring — and How They Can Protect Themselves

Retail TouchPoints

For many, the spring season brings in a fresh start. Whether it’s seeing the snow melt or cleaning out a closet, the changing of the seasons brings in space for individuals to reflect. For businesses, the spring season brings similar opportunities to reflect on how to solve problems and ensure growth. The bottom line is, now is as good a time as any for businesses to examine where losses occur.

article thumbnail

Automation or Programmability: Which Is better For DevOps?

Cisco Retail

A few years ago, I was tasked with solving a problem at work: I had to figure out how to stay in compliance with a National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) audit requirement for properly tracking and logging security vulnerabilities in our technology and applications. We had only a rough collection of functions in our software and network management tools that could do this, and those didn’t satisfy the auditors.

Returns 131
article thumbnail

Headwinds at Gap: Old Navy CEO Out, Banana Republic UK to Shutter Ecommerce Operations

Retail TouchPoints

Gap Inc. has downgraded its sales outlook for the first quarter of fiscal 2022 and announced the departure of Old Navy President and CEO Nancy Green, causing shares of the retail group to plummet 18% the day after the announcements. Citing challenging macro-economic dynamics and “execution challenges” at the Old Navy brand, Gap Inc. is now predicting low- to mid-teens declines YoY in the first quarter, compared to an earlier forecast that foresaw mid- to high-single-digit declines.

article thumbnail

Humans + Agents = Rethinking Enterprise Commerce with AI

AI agents already analyze trends, draft content, and trigger actions across leading commerce platforms. Yet most organizations still rely on workflows built for human‑only teams, losing speed, margin, and customer loyalty. Humans + Agents: Rethinking Enterprise Commerce in the Age of AI Collaboration shows how to close that gap. In one concise read you’ll see where agent gains surface first, how early adopters prove ROI, and which lean controls keep innovation moving without risking data or bran

article thumbnail

Fed expected to get more aggressive with interest rate hikes to curb inflation

Retail Wire

“Inflation hawks” tend to argue for interest rate hikes in order to check inflation, whereas “doves” petition to keep rates low in order to stimulate economic growth. It appears as though the hawks are squawking loudest at present. The Federal Reserve last month raised the interest rate for the first time in over four years and many are now calling for stepping up the amount and frequency of the rate hikes to push back inflation, an issue that is front of mind with most A

ATS 130
article thumbnail

Cardboard Bears to Ocean Plastic Watches: 4 Unique Ways Companies are Innovating Sustainability

Retail TouchPoints

Almost every retailer has a plan to green its operations, from sourcing more sustainable products to adopting solar power, and on Earth Day these efforts are brought to the forefront. At a time when 84% of companies have incorporated corporate social responsibility into their business strategies, it can be hard to develop programs that stand out as truly unique.

Consumer 257
article thumbnail

Bigger is better: Former PAS Group CEO talks Brand Collective merger

Inside Retail

When Larry Kestelman’s private equity firm LK Group acquired Melbourne-based retail business Brand Collective from Anchorage Capital Partners last year, the entrepreneur and owner of the National Basketball League said there were benefits to keeping the house of brands separate from his other recent retail acquisition, PAS Group. So Thursday’s announcement that the two retail businesses are merging into a single $600 million entity came as something of a surprise.

Fashion 130
article thumbnail

Report: 80% of US shoppers use buy now, pay later to avoid credit card debt

Retail Dive

However, critics have raised concerns about installment services saddling consumers with more debt and urged for regulatory scrutiny.

Consumer 128
article thumbnail

5 Tips for a Winning Category Management Strategy in 2025

Category Management is a cornerstone of a successful retail strategy. While it promotes collaboration between manufacturers and retailers to optimize category performance, challenges persist in its effective implementation due to hurdles in communication and collaboration across teams and partners, and more. In this guide, we outline five essential strategies for success in 2025 that will touch on all the essential pieces of a successful strategy and implementation.

article thumbnail

Guest Post: The Intersection of Engagement and Productivity

Hyken

This week, we feature an article by Luke Jamieson, Regional Director at Centrical , the next-gen employee engagement and performance platform. He writes about the importance of engagement and employee experience to an organization’s productivity to business success. According to Gallup, highly engaged teams are 21% more productive. What’s the connection between engagement and productivity and how do you achieve this nexus?

article thumbnail

Rite Aid rejected an unsolicited buyout offer

Retail Dive

The drugstore retailer dismissed the off-market proposal as not credible, but kept the door open for future offers.

Marketing 111
article thumbnail

The USPS has an answer to late packages, it’s redefining lateness

Retail Wire

Currently, the U.S. Postal Service considers a first-class package late if it arrives three or more days after it’s posted. The service is in the process of moving more of its package deliveries to ground in order to save on air transport costs. The move will necessarily result in slower package deliveries overall, and so the USPS is resetting its standards so that 30 percent of first-class packages will be seen as “on time” if they arrive within four or five days.

100
100
article thumbnail

5 Eco-Friendly Tips for a Greener Learning Journey

Cisco Retail

When I was growing up, Earth Day was always one of those annual events on the school calendar that generally would fly by without much attention. Occasionally we’d have a teacher who would discuss the evils of pollution and its effect on the ozone layer. Then, if we were lucky, we’d go outside with the entire class and plant a tree. But, for the most part, Earth Day didn’t garner the visibility of other more noted holidays.

Outdoor 98
article thumbnail

Cut Costs & Complexity: Smarter Fulfillment for Home, Furniture & DIY Brands

Late deliveries. Split shipments. Spiraling freight costs. For home, furniture, and DIY brands, fulfillment has never been more complex—or more critical. This report outlines how a smarter, AI-ready order management system (OMS) helps you reduce shipping costs, streamline project-based fulfillment, and ensure accurate inventory across every channel.

article thumbnail

Musk lines up financing to buy Twitter for ‘the future of civilization’

Retail Wire

Elon Musk revealed on Thursday that he has arranged $46.5 billion in financing to buy Twitter, and the extent of the personal financial risk he is taking and the way he proposes to leverage assets have many analysts talking today. Typically in such a buyout, the assets of the company being acquired are used to secure loans and investments that make up the majority of the funds used, but Mr.

Finance 100
article thumbnail

Costa Coffee to trial new recyclable fibre lids ahead of possible UK-wide roll out

Retail Times

Costa Coffee, the Nation’s Favourite Coffee Shop, has today announced the launch of new trial of 100% fibre lids. Made from renewable plant-based material, the lids are 100% recyclable and will be available at 150 Costa Coffee stores across the UK, until stocks last.

article thumbnail

Big, international product companies are passing on higher costs to consumers

Retail Wire

Companies as diverse in their offerings as Nestle, Danone, Tesla and United Airlines all have one thing in common — they have all been enjoying strong sales demand despite higher prices in recent months. “We stepped up pricing in a responsible manner and saw sustained consumer demand,” said Nestle, which reported a 7.6 percent increase in organic sales in its first quarter.

Consumer 100
article thumbnail

Learn About Small Businesses Giving Back This April

Small Biz Trends

With Earth Day on April 22, Spring is a popular time for businesses to focus on giving back. However, charitable giving has become an important part of running a business all year long. Many entrepreneurs prioritize charitable giving to causes important to them. And employees and customers may even be more likely to support companies that focus on this type of giving.

article thumbnail

What Your Financial Statements Are Telling You—And How to Listen!

Speaker: David Worrell, CFO, Author & Speaker

Your financial statements hold powerful insights—but are you truly paying attention? Many finance professionals focus on the income statement while overlooking key signals hidden in the balance sheet and cash flow statement. Understanding these numbers can unlock smarter decision-making, uncover risks, and drive long-term success. Join David Worrell, accomplished CFO, finance expert, and author, for an engaging, nontraditional take on reading financial statements.

article thumbnail

Carl Icon condemns McDonald’s for ‘animal welfare violations’

Retail Wire

Investor Carl Icon says he currently holds only 200 shares of McDonald’s stock, but that hasn’t stopped him from advocating on behalf of the pigs the chain uses in its product production. “McDonald’s’ Board of Directors … is failing shareholders and stakeholders by presiding over animal welfare violations, supply chain lapses and what I perceive to be a hollow environmental, social and governance (‘ESG’) agenda,” he wrote.

article thumbnail

In the News: Grants From $10K Up To $500K Up For Grabs for Small Businesses

Small Biz Trends

Local and state governments are keenly aware of the challenges small businesses are facing right now. Beyond the difficulties brought on by the pandemic, inflation and supply chain issues are now compounding the problem. And this is why grants have become an invaluable tool for many small business owners. Even if you haven’t thought about applying for a grant before, now is a great time to see what your community is offering.

Returns 98
article thumbnail

Best Buy is selling haul-away recycling to consumers

Retail Wire

Best Buy’s new Standalong Haul-Away service will come to customers’ homes and truck away unwanted tech equipment and appliances for a $200 fee. There are a set of rules and restrictions on the number and type of items the service will accept. Members of Best Buy’s Totaltech program will receive a 20 percent discount on the service.

Consumer 100
article thumbnail

Automation in Retail

Cisco Retail

Automation means different things to different people. From marketing automation to network automation, workflow automation to equipment automation, using technology to automate tasks or functions allows retailers to focus on delivering the best customer experiences. It also allows retailers to rely on automation to address permissions for the network or online order fulfillment and notification.

article thumbnail

State of AI in Sales & Marketing 2025

AI adoption is reshaping sales and marketing. But is it delivering real results? We surveyed 1,000+ GTM professionals to find out. The data is clear: AI users report 47% higher productivity and an average of 12 hours saved per week. But leaders say mainstream AI tools still fall short on accuracy and business impact. Download the full report today to see how AI is being used — and where go-to-market professionals think there are gaps and opportunities.

article thumbnail

Flagship Starbucks Roastery employees in Seattle vote to join union

Retail Wire

The National Labor Relations Board released news yesterday that employees of the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in the Capitol Hill neighborhood in Seattle voted 38-to-27 in favor of union representation by Workers United. The location is the second in Starbucks’ home city to unionize, a move seen as a personal blow to CEO Howard Schultz who recently returned to the helm and has been working hard to counter the unionization movement at his company.

Returns 100
article thumbnail

Join Your Local Penny-farthing Spin Class

Small Biz Trends

This article, " Join Your Local Penny-farthing Spin Class " was first published on Small Business Trends.

98
article thumbnail

The Weekly Closeout: REI expands run assortment and Farfetch enters beauty

Retail Dive

The outdoors retailer will also improve employee training in the category. Meanwhile, the luxury platform will offer a "curated edit" of beauty items.

Outdoor 98
article thumbnail

Take a Business Writing Course Online

Small Biz Trends

In the middle of every successful business interaction, there is effective communication to see the deals through. Business communication skill is a vital element of every business. Business writing is one of the most important forms of communication. From composing emails to writing reports and presenting them, business writing is a necessary skill for every entrepreneur.

article thumbnail

SEO vs. PPC: Which Strategy Is Best for Your Business?

When it comes to driving traffic and growing your online presence, businesses often ask: SEO or PPC—what’s the better choice? This guide breaks down the key differences between search engine optimization (SEO) and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, highlighting their pros, cons, and best use cases. Whether you’re looking for long-term organic growth or immediate visibility through paid ads, we’ll help you determine which strategy—or combination of both—is right for your business.