Sat.Dec 16, 2023 - Fri.Dec 22, 2023

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The Christmas Song Retail Workers Hate Most is…

Retail TouchPoints

The holiday season brings joy, magic, beautiful decorations and a soundtrack of carols and standards that we revisit year after year. Sure, these tracks may get us in a festive mood, but for retail workers listening to them on what can feel like a truly endless loop they could also lead to madness. New research from customer feedback company HappyOrNot reveals that not all holiday hits are created equal for store associates.

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In pictures: The 10 best store openings of 2023

Retail Gazette

2023 saw a resurgence in the high street, with a raft of high-profile store openings. Retail Gazette rounds up the best new stores of the year that have created a real buzz on the high street. HMV, Oxford Street To the delight of music – and er, pop culture fans – last month HMV reopened the doors to its Oxford Street flagship after a four-year absence.

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Holiday Retail Trends 2023: Essential Insights for Online Brands & Retailers

Wiser

Analyzing the holiday retail trends of 2023 can illuminate the path forward for brands and retailers and clarify the steps they need to take to stay competitive. Data can help identify the promotional strategies that resonated with consumers, the products that flew off the virtual shelves, and the ones that didn’t. With this knowledge, brands and retailers can tailor their future strategies to align with consumer behavior and preferences.

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Best of 2023: Is private equity ownership slowly killing retail?

Retail Gazette

The tale of Britain’s two private equity-owned supermarket buyouts took a new turn when Asda owners the Issa brothers unveiled a £2.3bn merger between the supermarket chain and the UK and Ireland operations of their other business, petrol station giant EG Group earlier this year. The proceeds from the tie-up will be used to pay down EG Group’s climbing debt pile.

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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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The Top 5 Retail Remix Episodes of 2023

Retail TouchPoints

The Retail Remix podcast was developed to feature the founders, executives and practitioners shaping retail’s future. Over three -plus years, I have had the honor of speaking with industry pros who have rich backgrounds in tech, marketing and advertising, operations, finance and so much more. With every conversation, my goal is simple: to have candid and at times challenging conversations around some of the industry’s hottest topics and trends.

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Positive and Negative Experiences of the Enchanting European Christmas Markets

Retail Focus

Ghalia BOUSTANI. Senior Retail Consultant at Univers Retail | Published author | Visiting lecturer. As winter descends upon Europe, the continent comes alive with the festive spirit of Christmas. One of the most cherished traditions during this season is the Christmas market, where locals and tourists alike gather to revel in the magic of the holidays.

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Year in Review 2023: Tokinomo’s news, awards, and best campaigns

Tokinomo

2023 marked a year of unparalleled achievement for Tokinomo, characterized by groundbreaking innovations, influential participation in key events, and notable recognition in the retail marketing sphere.

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Winning Strategies for Maximizing Digital Share of Shelf

Wiser

Prioritizing your digital share of shelf is paramount if you want to get ahead in the eCommerce space. This critical metric, reliant on online product visibility and positioning, holds significant sway over brand awareness, customer preference, and ultimately, sales performance. With the surge in eCommerce, understanding and leveraging the concept becomes a requisite for businesses wanting to maintain a competitive edge.

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ARA predicts $9 billion spendathon over the last week before Christmas

Inside Retail

Shoppers in Australia will spend an additional $9 billion during the final week before Christmas, according to the re-forecast by the Australian Retailers Association (ARA), in conjunction with Roy Morgan. This will bring spending for the November-December 24 trading period up to $67.4 billion, an increase of 1 per cent from last year. Across the pre-Christmas period, food spending is expected to reach $27 billion, up 3.2 per cent from last year.

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Thrift Store Shopper Sells $3.99 Vase for Over $100K

Retail Wire

In a small Goodwill store in Hanover County, Virginia, thrift store shopper Jessica Vincent spotted an unusual green and burgundy striped vase with a price tag of only $3.99. This thrift store find would eventually net her over $100,000.

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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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American Freight Unveils Upgraded Store Design and Shopping Experience

Retail TouchPoints

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

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Personalized shopping, retail trends, and sustainable food brands - Weekly Snacks #85

Tokinomo

Campaign corner Santa’s wish. Santa, in a nationwide letter, has requested savory snacks instead of cookies this year, suggesting Canadians leave out chips. Research by Frito Lay Canada and Angus Reid Forum shows that 68% of Canadians sometimes prefer savory holiday snacks. Frito Lay is advocating for this new tradition, aligning with their popular brands like Lay's®, Doritos®, and Cheetos®.

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Struggling Farfetch sold to South Korean retail firm Coupang

Inside Retail

New York-listed South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang has rescued Farfetch Holdings from the brink of bankruptcy through an acquisition that grants the luxury platform access to US$500 million of capital to stay afloat. “Farfetch will rededicate itself to providing the most elevated experience for the world’s most exclusive brands while pursuing steady and thoughtful growth as a private company,” said Bom Kim, founder and CEO of Coupang.

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Microsoft and TomTom Partner To Create Conversational AI Assistant for Cars

Retail Wire

TomTom has announced that it will be partnering with Microsoft to create a fully integrated AI-powered conversational automotive assistant for the global automobile industry.

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Brick & Mortar Retail Relevance: How to Stay Ahead of the Curve

Speaker: Jay Black, Senior Account Executive

Let's set the record straight: in-store retail isn't dead - it's evolving! Faced with the digital age and the demands of omnichannel shopping, some retailers are thriving while others are struggling to adapt. Join Jay Black in this exclusive session as he explores the strategies that set successful stores apart, including: Crafting unique and unforgettable in-store experiences 🛍️ Mastering the art of retail demands 🛒 Navigating inventory challenges in today's climate 📦 an

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Walmart Brings BNPL to Self-Checkout in 4,500 Stores Via Expanded Partnership with Affirm

Retail TouchPoints

Walmart will offer buy now, pay later (BNPL) options at self-checkout kiosks in more than 4,500 U.S. stores through an expanded partnership with Affirm. Walmart and Affirm first partnered in 2019 to bring BNPL options to shoppers on its website and app. Indeed, until recently most BNPL offerings were relegated to the digital realm, but stores are widely seen as the next big area of expansion for this increasingly popular financing option.

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UK consumers believe AI-powered pricing and promotions add the most value to their buying journeys, research by Intellias reveals

Retail Focus

With rapidly increasing use and adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in their day-to-day lives, UK shoppers are increasingly expecting retailers to leverage AI to improve their buying journeys, the latest research from Intellias , the global retail technology partner, reveals. Top 5 areas where AI delivers the most value to UK consumers:- 1 – Pricing and promotions – 28% 2 – Loyalty – real-time personalised rewards – 18% 3 – Product discovery when searchin

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Collins Foods faces class action suit from KFC workers

Inside Retail

Franchisee Collins Foods has confirmed the receipt of a class action claim from certain KFC employees who allegedly were not provided paid 10-minute rest breaks. Shine Lawyers filed the lawsuit at the Federal Court of Australia on behalf of these employees who worked at certain KFC stores from December 4, 2017 to December 4, this year. “Collins Foods takes all its obligations under the Fair Work Act and KFC National Enterprise Agreement very seriously, including the obligation to allow emp

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Maine Power Outages Delay Electric Vehicles Mandate

Retail Wire

Things came to a grinding halt in Maine when a merciless storm triggered widespread power outages, causing the state's foremost environmental agency to postpone a pivotal vote on a proposed electric vehicles mandate.

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How to Stay Competitive in the Evolving State of Martech

Marketing technology is essential for B2B marketers to stay competitive in a rapidly changing digital landscape — and with 53% of marketers experiencing legacy technology issues and limitations, they’re researching innovations to expand and refine their technology stacks. To help practitioners keep up with the rapidly evolving martech landscape, this special report will discuss: How practitioners are integrating technologies and systems to encourage information-sharing between departments and pr

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Beautyque NYC Debuts New Interactive VR Shopping App

Retail TouchPoints

Beauty retailer Beautyque NYC — which debuted in 2020 as the first 3D virtual beauty store — is testing out a new technological innovation in the beauty space: a virtual reality app that will allow users to immerse themselves in a virtual beauty store where they can interact with and shop for products. The brand got its virtual start out of necessity — Co-founders Sonia Khemiri and Sylvie Giret were finalizing the lease for their first SoHo store in March 2020 when the pandemic hit, Khemiri told

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TRILUX’s E-Line Next and B.Veo meet Dubai’s dynamics In Madinat Badr’s AllDay supermarket

Retail Focus

At the heart of the vibrant “Madinat Badr,” one of Dubai’s luxurious new development districts, the 93rd branch of the AllDay supermarket chain opened its doors in the spring. Collaborating closely with TRILUX, AllDay embarked on a transformational journey to redefine its approach to lighting. At the heart of the vibrant “Madinat Badr,” one of Dubai’s luxurious new development districts, the 93rd branch of the AllDay supermarket chain opened its doors in the s

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Luxury label Portia & Scarlett sold to American fashion company

Inside Retail

Australia-based formalwear brand Portia & Scarlett has been acquired by US wedding dress manufacturer Allure Bridals for an undisclosed sum. Allure Bridals said the strategic acquisition marks its venture into the prom and pageant space and will help expand the brand’s global reach. It will also “elevate the position” of both Portia & Scarlett and the Allure Bridals brand family. “This union marks a shared milestone, and seamlessly aligns with our mutual commitment to excelle

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Canada Planning Zero-Emission Vehicle Requirement by 2035

Retail Wire

In a bold move toward a cleaner environment, Canada is expected to unveil new regulations this week stipulating that all vehicles sold in the country should be zero-emissions by 2035.

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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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How AI is Being Utilized in the Last-Mile Logistics Space

Retail TouchPoints

Last-mile logistics is a complex and complicated facet of the business world that requires orchestrating many moving parts, meeting tight deadlines and addressing the needs of multiple stakeholders. In addition, several external factors — from weather to traffic to a lack of available parking — can disrupt the process. To enhance efficiency and increase productivity, many last-mile logistics companies have been quick to take advantage of the benefits of artificial intelligence.

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Lidl becomes first UK supermarket to double paid maternity and adoption leave

Retail Gazette

Lidl GB has become the first supermarket to introduce 28 weeks full pay for colleagues on maternity or adoption leave. From 1 January 2024, the discount grocery giant will double paid maternity and adoption leave, with colleagues now benefiting from over six months of full-pay, up from 14 weeks. Aldi said the move will not only support parents, but also “set a new benchmark for others in the industry to follow” As part of a raft of new employment benefits , the discounter will also b

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Zoë Foster Blake reacquires major stake in Go-To Skincare

Inside Retail

Zoë Foster Blake along with her co-founders have taken full control of Go-To Skincare after acquiring collapsed beauty company BWX’s stake in the business. Blake is now the majority shareholder of Go-To Skincare after the share buyback from BWX, which acquired a 50.1 per cent stake in the skincare brand for $89 million in August 2021. BWX collapsed and entered voluntary administration in April, with KPMG Australia subsequently appointed receiver. “This transaction returns control of

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Walgreens Relies on Tech and Has To Build Up Its IT Department To Meet Its Goals

Retail Wire

Walgreens will need to build up its IT department to reach its goals of using tech to boost sales, scale its healthcare division, and remodel its stores to logistic hubs.

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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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Ecommerce’s AI Playbook: Data, Personalization and Scalability

Retail TouchPoints

Once upon a time, finding the perfect product online was like wandering the aisles of a library without a card catalog. But the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed the quest for the perfect online purchase and unleashed a remarkable evolution in ecommerce. From its first rudimentary keyword-based tools to today’s ability to decipher intent and deliver personalized results, the evolution of AI in ecommerce has been nothing short of revolutionary.

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Boots unveils plans to launch AI ‘personal shopper’

Retail Gazette

Boots is planning to launch a ChatGPT “personal shopper” tool for its website users in aims to boost online sales. The healthcare company is thought to be testing an artificial intelligence chatbot which would be able to make recommendations for lipsticks and beauty gifts. The chatbot is expected to focus on beauty products rather than pharmacy sales, with the testing believed to be at a very early stage.

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New Balance opens its first ‘Grey Store’ in Asia Pacific

Inside Retail

Sports footwear and apparel manufacturer New Balance has opened its first Grey Store in the Southern Hemisphere – at Sydney’s The Galeries shopping centre. The store offers ‘Made in USA’ and ‘Made in UK’ collections as well as first access to new collabs and merchandise drops, with 80 per cent of the products available exclusively at the location. “The Galeries Grey Store has been designed to provide a high-end, luxe retail experience in the heart of Sydney and we can’t wait to see the reception

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Hyperloop One Ends Dreams of High-Speed Travel

Retail Wire

Known for its revolutionary idea of zipping humans through a vacuum at breakneck speeds, Hyperloop One has regrettably announced its closure.

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Exploring the Advantages and Hurdles of Direct Store Deliveries

Direct Store Delivery, or DSD, is a common practice among global suppliers and retailers – like PepsiCo, Frito Lay, CVS, and Dollar General – and its popularity is growing, with the global DSD market expected to reach $1.19 trillion by 2027. Download this eBook for exclusive insights into direct store deliveries, challenges, benefits, and future trends.