Fri.Sep 22, 2023

article thumbnail

Walmart: Virtual Worlds Offer Chance to ‘Experiment with a New Type of Commerce’

Retail TouchPoints

Walmart is actively pursuing what it sees as the “future of retail” in gaming environments. The company shared details about a number of current initiatives — including plans to introduce commerce capabilities into its mobile game House Flip — and promised that “over the next year, you’ll see us test a variety of experiences in virtual worlds that connect to commerce at stores and vice versa.

Fashion 278
article thumbnail

See Chipotle’s New Robots That Can Crank Out Nearly 200 Burrito Bowls an Hour

Retail Wire

Chipotle is partnering with Hyphen, a food tech startup, to test an automated kitchen line capable of producing up to 180 bowls per hour, boosting the efficiency of its digital orders, which accounted for over $3 billion in sales last year. While one person can manually prepare 20 to 30 bowls per hour, Hyphen’s system.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

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

article thumbnail

Sunnier Economic Outlooks Drive Peak Season

Retail TouchPoints

While consumers still make plenty of online purchases, analysts expect ecommerce sales to grow more moderately in the near term compared to the past few years. Meanwhile, consumers return to brick-and-mortar stores and seek omnichannel experiences. Click-and-collect sales from BOPIS and curbside pickup are projected to exceed $100 billion this year.

Shipping 264
article thumbnail

Decjuba to open standalone D-luxe Basics concept stores

Inside Retail

Fashion retailer Decjuba will launch seven standalone D-luxe Basics concept stores across Australia this week. Previously, the company only sold its D-luxe Basics products online and as a sub-brand within Decjuba stores. The concept stores are set to open at Eastgardens in New South Wales, Geelong and Eastland in Victoria, Rundle Mall in South Australia, Subiaco and Joondalup in Western Australia, and Pacific Fair in Queensland.

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

Staples Adds Uber Eats Delivery Option for School and Office Supplies

Retail TouchPoints

Staples has partnered with Uber Eats to make school and office supplies available for scheduled or on-demand delivery from its stores across the country. Members of the Uber One loyalty program will benefit from $0 delivery fees and up to 10% off Staples orders of $15 or more at selected stores. “Back to school and back to the office can make September one of the busiest months of the year, and Staples has the solution to so many household challenges,” said Christian Freese, Head of Grocery and

Returns 264
article thumbnail

Target releases first private label kitchen brand, Figmint

Retail Dive

Over half of the items are under $10, as the retailer continues to broaden its assortment to include more affordable price points.

128
128

More Trending

article thumbnail

Big Box Medicine: How Retail Brands Are Thinking About the Future of Healthcare

Retail Wire

Retailers are increasingly eyeing the healthcare industry, seeking opportunities to expand into the nearly $4 trillion health sector. This encompasses a range of initiatives, from retail health clinics to wearable medical devices, aiming to enhance access to healthcare services, especially in the home setting.

124
124
article thumbnail

Foot Locker Continues Shift to Community Stores with New Chicago Location

Retail TouchPoints

Foot Locker has opened its new community-focused store at the Chatham Ridge Shopping Center in Chicago. The exterior of the store is adorned with a mural titled Love Yours that was created by a local artist to represent the power of loving and taking pride in community. The new location spans 9,695 square feet and celebrates the South Side community through exclusive community-centric programming.

Location 264
article thumbnail

McDonald’s To Raise Royalty Fees for New Franchise Restaurants in US, Canada

Retail Wire

McDonald’s is set to increase royalty fees for new franchise restaurants in the U.S. and Canada, marking the first hike in nearly thirty years, according to a letter seen by Reuters. Starting Jan. 1, the fees will rise from 4% to 5%, aligning with charges in other global markets. This move comes as the fast-food.

Marketing 124
article thumbnail

To Tackle Workforce Issues, Retail Leaders Need to Display Their Vulnerability

Retail TouchPoints

With our Editors Perspectives column, you’ll get insights and opinions from the Retail TouchPoints editorial team as they dig into the latest trends in retail, marketing and tech. “Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our greatest measure of courage.

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

Small businesses embrace digital payments

Retail Dive

Small business owners envision a cashless future, according to Visa, even as some legislators move to protect unbanked and underbanked consumers.

Consumer 119
article thumbnail

Ads Coming to Prime Video in 2024, but Amazon Promises ‘Meaningfully Fewer’ than on Other Streamers

Retail TouchPoints

Amazon is following the lead of nearly every other streaming service — including Disney+ , Netflix and HBO’s Max — in announcing that it will begin running ads on its programming in early 2024. Prime members who wish to avoid commercials will have the option to upgrade to a new ad-free tier for $2.99 per month. Amazon’s announcement of its plans had an almost apologetic undertone.

article thumbnail

Eddie Bauer pins growth on global expansion, wholesale

Retail Dive

The century-old outdoor apparel retailer is also getting a brand refresh, including a new logo.

Wholesale 116
article thumbnail

Sterling Dips After Weak UK Business Activity, Retail Data

Retail Wire

The British pound experienced a dip against both the dollar and the euro following disappointing business activity and retail data. A Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) survey revealed that UK companies faced a tougher September than anticipated, marking its lowest score since January 2021.

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

Redken launches DTC website

Retail Dive

While products have been available for sale in local salons, Amazon and Ulta, the site allows consumers to buy items directly from the brand online.

Consumer 114
article thumbnail

FTC to File Antitrust Case Against Amazon as Soon as Tuesday – Politico

Retail Wire

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is poised to file an anticipated antitrust lawsuit against Amazon in federal court, potentially as early as Tuesday, according to reports by Politico. This move is part of a broader effort to curtail the market dominance of major tech firms. The anticipated suit follows similar actions taken against Google and.

Marketing 113
article thumbnail

The Weekly Closeout: True Religion expands internationally and The Container Store’s CEO takes a pay cut

Retail Dive

The apparel retailer will soon have 26 markets outside of the U.S., while Satish Malhotra temporarily reduced his salary to offset employee pay raises.

Apparel 111
article thumbnail

Planet Fitness’ Longtime CEO Says He Was ‘Blindsided’ by Abrupt Firing That Sent Gym’s Stock Plummeting — And Barred Him From Talking to Staff

Retail Wire

Chris Rondeau, former CEO of Planet Fitness, expressed being “seriously blindsided” by the board’s decision to ask him to resign, causing the company’s shares to plummet nearly 20%. This abrupt change wiped over $1 billion in market cap from the gym giant. Rondeau’s separation agreement now restricts him from contacting most Planet Fitness employees regarding.

Marketing 113
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

Purple taps Party City vet as CFO

Retail Dive

Todd Vogensen on Oct. 16 will take over from interim CFO Bennett Nussbaum, who will become the company’s chief transformation officer.

111
111
article thumbnail

The Entertainer profits plunge despite 10% sales rise

Retail Gazette

The Entertainer’s pre-tax profits dropped from £22.5m last year to £7.6m, despite experiencing nearly a 10% rise in sales. The toy retailer’s sales edged up 1% on pre-pandemic levels, for the year ended 28 January 2023. While store sales were “up significantly”, the business noted online sales dropped compared to the previous year, although were higher than pre-Covid.

ATS 109
article thumbnail

Savage X Fenty debuts soccer-inspired collection

Retail Dive

The brand — which was founded by Rihanna — launched limited-edition League products including themed jerseys, joggers and more.

111
111
article thumbnail

Hy-Vee Launches RedMedia Omnichannel Retail Media Network

Retail Wire

Hy-Vee has unveiled its full-scale retail media network, Hy-Vee RedMedia, aiming to connect brands directly with its customer base across online and in-store platforms. This network, showcased at the Groceryshop 2023 conference, blends first-party customer data with insights from leading advertising firms for more targeted marketing. The company, operating across various industries, believes its diverse.

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

Dobbies grows line-up of retail experts in Northern Ireland through partnership with Workforce, and Antrim and Newtonabbey Council

Retail Times

Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre retailer, is growing its line up of retail experts in Northern Ireland through a new partnership with Workforce, and Antrim and Newtonabbey Council. The news comes ahead of the opening of Dobbies new 110,000 sq ft store at The Junction on 5 October 2023 which will be the biggest in its […] If you want more in

ATS 98
article thumbnail

Goodyear Tire To Cut 700 Jobs, Sell Retail Stores in Asia Pacific

Retail Wire

Goodyear Tire & Rubber has revealed plans to cut 700 jobs and divest approximately 100 retail stores and fleet locations as part of a rationalization initiative in its Asia Pacific segment. This move is projected to enhance the segment’s operating income by about $50 to $55 million in 2025, with a concurrent improvement in profitability.

Location 100
article thumbnail

The future of roadways and intersections. Coffee and Conversations podcast

Cisco Retail

The need to connect, secure , and optimize our critical roadways and intersections infrastructure is now clearer than ever.

article thumbnail

Americans Are Cheaping Out Big Time on Restaurant Tips. Here Are the States With the Worst and Best Tippers.

Retail Wire

Restaurant tipping rates in the U.S. have declined, averaging 18.9% in the second quarter of 2023, down from 19% in the first quarter, according to a report by restaurant software company Toast. Delaware leads with the highest tipping rate at 21.5%, while California has the lowest at 17.4%.

ATS 100
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

UK consumer confidence soars to highest point in 20 months

Retail Gazette

Consumer confidence across the UK has climbed to its highest point since January 2022, rising for the second consecutive month in September. The consumer confidence index increased by four points to -21 this month. The value has exceeded the record low of -49 during the same time last year, according to market research company GfK. The rise was aided by easing inflation rates and strong wage growth.

article thumbnail

TikTok Announces Black Friday Discounts. Here’s What It Means for E-Commerce Brands

Retail Wire

TikTok is set to subsidize discounts of up to 50% for sellers on its newly launched TikTok Shop, a move aimed at gaining traction with U.S. shoppers during the holiday season. This signals increased competition for brands like Amazon, Walmart, Facebook, and Instagram. With last year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday seeing U.S. shoppers spend.

Shopping 100
article thumbnail

Brits to see new ‘Not for EU’ labels in supermarkets, but what are they?

Retail Times

Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! From 1st October this year, new ‘Not for EU’ labels will have to be included on many of our favourite food products that cross the border between the UK and Northern Ireland. Shoppers are already beginning to spot new labels among the supermarket shelves and soon, they’ll be everywhere.

article thumbnail

Amazon Drops Planned Merchant Fee as FTC Lawsuit Looms

Retail Wire

Amazon has decided to cancel a planned 2% fee on sales made by third-party sellers who handle their own shipping, a move that signifies the company’s cautious approach amid increasing antitrust scrutiny. This fee, originally set to be implemented on Oct. 1, was aimed at offsetting rising costs for Amazon. The decision comes at a.

Planning 100
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.