2020

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Nike to Open 30 Stores in 2021, Continue Investing in Customer Outreach and Supply Chain

Retail TouchPoints

Nike plans to open 30 stores in the second half of 2021 as the retailer positions itself for long-term growth. Leaders discussed their plans for the business, including growing its connections with shoppers and improving supply chain capabilities, on a Dec. 18 call with analysts. The retailer’s plan to better connect with consumers will include “scaling direct connections with contactable members,” according to Matt Friend, EVP and CFO at Nike.

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What is 4PL and How Can Your Brand Find the Best Partner?

Wiser

Growing brands have to make tough decisions about what business functions they will keep in-house and which ones they can outsource. The question of outsourcing logistics often comes up fairly early in a brand’s lifecycle, and how it’s answered can have a large impact on the brand’s ability to scale. We’ve already talked about why a growing brand might choose a third-party logistics provider.

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How Your Business Can Survive the Coronavirus Pandemic

Hello Small Shop

Businesses across the country are sitting in limbo as the coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the economy. While some businesses remain closed, others are struggling with lost sales and slow traffic after reopening. As small businesses struggle to survive, many entrepreneurs are wondering if there’s any way forward — or if they’re doomed to join the thousands of small businesses that have permanently closed their doors.

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How to Turn a Rough Stone into a VVS1 Jewelry Business?

RETAIL MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE

Managing a jewelry store or a fast-growing retail operation is already a daunting task when you don’t have a smart Jewelry business software system to tame the day to day operations; let alone coping with the changing dynamics of consumer trends and markets in the disruptive times. Despite the plummeting jewelry sales during the first period of confinement between March and April of 2020, the mood is on the up-swing again.

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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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Pinocchio is a tiny bakery in Japan decorated in the colours of bread

Dezeen

Design studio I IN has used warm, golden hues to decorate the Pinocchio bakery in Yokohama, Japan , which displays bread and pastries on minimalist shelves. Measuring at just 4.2 metres wide, Pinocchio sits in front of Oguchi train station and has been decorated to match the delicacies sold within. The tiny bakery project, which I IN also calls Small Icon, has been shortlisted for Dezeen Awards 2020 in the small retail interior category.

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What Does the Back to School 2020 Retail Season Look Like?

IntelligenceNode

Anyone who’s been in the retail business knows how important capitalizing on the shopping wave during the back to school, or BTS season is. Depending upon which expert you ask, this potential boom in sales is the second or the third biggest during a calendar year. However, things are not quite the same this year […]. The post What Does the Back to School 2020 Retail Season Look Like?

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Walmart Allies With Instacart To Boost Same-Day Delivery Capacity

Retail TouchPoints

Even with 74,000 personal shoppers and its recently launched Express Delivery service, Walmart has faced challenges keeping up with demand as consumers escalate both their online ordering and their expectations for faster home delivery. To ramp up capacity for same-day delivery, Walmart has struck a deal with Instacart to pilot home delivery in Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego, Calif. as well as Tulsa, Okla., according to CNBC.

Consumer 360
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The Future of Retail, Reimagined

Retail TouchPoints

Even before COVID-19, the retail industry was already going through significant challenges, disruption and transformation. That has all been turned on its head. Get ready for the “new abnormal.”. Going forward there will be a fundamental shift in consumers’ reengagement and behavior towards physical environments, including the size and program of space.

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J.Crew To Exit Bankruptcy With More Than 300 Stores

Retail TouchPoints

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia has approved the J.Crew Group reorganization plan, paving the way for the parent company of J.Crew , J.Crew Factory and Madewell to emerge from Chapter 11 in early September. J.Crew was an early casualty in what has become a long list of retailers that have filed for bankruptcy in the wake of COVID-19.

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Aetrex Worldwide Releases Voice-Enabled Foot Measuring Technology

Retail TouchPoints

Aetrex Worldwide has launched Albert 2, the next generation of the company’s 3D foot scanning technology. The omnichannel device is designed to be a fully integrated foot scanning system that can help shoppers find correctly fitting footwear and orthotics and provide an enhanced customer experience at retail. Customers step into the Albert 2, which can scan both feet in 20 seconds or less, to capture static and dynamic pressure as well as 3D measurements of the foot.

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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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AWS Q&A: How Retailers can Prepare Ecommerce Operations for COVID-Driven Uncertainty

Retail TouchPoints

This year’s surge in ecommerce has put strains on both supply chains and websites, and retailers now are guessing what challenges they will face as fall and winter bring the threat of a COVID-19 resurgence as well as the usual holiday rush. With ecommerce traffic unlikely to wane anytime soon, retailers need to harden their operations to prepare for a potential holiday rush.

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2020 has Seen an Irreversible Change in Consumer Behavior; Now is the Time to Adapt

Retail TouchPoints

2020 has been an exceptional year for the retail sector, with all businesses having to rapidly adapt in some way or another. Such a time of upheaval has led to a permanent, irreversible change in consumer behavior as shoppers embrace the convenience and security of ecommerce more readily. There is much for retail organizations to do to make themselves resilient to the incoming challenges, but enhancing omnichannel capabilities and building powerful ecommerce experiences will be crucial.

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Why Streamlined Omnichannel Shopping Is The New ‘Table Stakes’ In Retail

Retail TouchPoints

The convergence of a pandemic, economic turmoil and a heated presidential election can make it difficult to look beyond the here and now, but shoppers nevertheless expect retailers to have a long-term vision. Consumers are recognizing that major companies can play a large role in shaping tomorrow — both in terms of their influence on society at large and the post-COVID-19 shopper experience, according to the Visions Into The Future report by CallisonRTKL.

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How Retailers Can Control Costs Even As Return Rates Climb

Retail TouchPoints

Returns are a cost of doing business for any retailer. But despite representing $309 billion in lost sales for U.S. retailers last year, they haven’t always been a strategic focus. In the wake of COVID-19, returns are receiving serious (and necessary) attention for several key reasons: Retailers are spending more processing returns in stores. They are expected to keep merchandise out of circulation due to COVID infection concerns and to provide employees with personal protection to prevent infec

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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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IKEA Partners With Google Cloud to Enhance Omnichannel and Customer Service Capabilities

Retail TouchPoints

IKEA has partnered with Google Cloud to improve it technological capabilities, including the implementation of AI and machine learning tools, upgrading omnichannel capabilities and exploring new customer service offerings. The retailer already was using Google Cloud to help scale operations during the coronavirus pandemic and will continue looking into new possibilities.

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AI Go Debuts Hybrid Autonomous Shopping in Shanghai C-Store

Retail TouchPoints

The AI-powered autonomous shopping experience just got bigger, in the form of a 4,000-square-foot hybrid convenience market called AI Go in Shanghai. The store combines a manned checkout with the use of computer vision as part of checkout-free shopping powered by AiFi Solutions. Stocking 2,000 SKUs ranging from fresh meats to snacks, this store represents the largest deployment to date of the AiFi Autonomous Store Platform OASIS.

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Walgreens Accelerates Clinic Rollout with Plans for 40 Additional Locations by mid-2021

Retail TouchPoints

Walgreens Boots Alliance and VillageMD will open the next 40 Village Medical at Walgreens full-service primary care clinics by the end of summer 2021. The first markets slated for expansion include Houston, El Paso and Austin, Texas; Phoenix; and Orlando, Fla. The expansion is part of the large-scale rollout that will open 500 to 700 Village Medical at Walgreens clinics in more than 30 U.S. markets in the next five years.

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Bed Bath & Beyond Posts First Sales Increase In Nearly Four Years

Retail TouchPoints

Bed Bath & Beyond achieved a 6% sales increase in Q2 2020, its first growth since Q4 2016, driven by an 89% jump in ecommerce sales. The online growth offset a 12% decline in same-store sales, bringing net sales to $2.7 billion. The retailer credited the improvements to its expansion of omnichannel offerings such as buy online, pick up in-store (BOPIS) and curbside pickup during the pandemic.

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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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DoorDash Debuts DashMart Digital DCs In 8 U.S. Markets

Retail TouchPoints

DoorDash is taking dark store fulfillment in a new direction with an online delivery service that sells products from its owned and operated local distribution centers. The DashMart convenience stores carry approximately 2,000 products, a combination of basics and impulse items — such as snacks, groceries, over-the-counter medicines and pet food — along with “fan favorites” from local and national restaurant chains.

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Identifying the ‘Faces’ Behind Faceless Online Transactions

Retail TouchPoints

Consumer preference for online shopping continues to rise, as more purchases are being made online than in stores with each passing year. In 2019 , the total market share of online U.S. retail sales surpassed general merchandise sales for the first time in history. And as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, this trend is only increasing. According to McKinsey , ecommerce sales in apparel, department stores and beauty products have increased by nearly 10%, on average, since the onset of the pan

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Bed Bath & Beyond Rolls Out Same-Day Delivery with Shipt and Instacart

Retail TouchPoints

In anticipation of customer demand for more and faster delivery options during the holidays, Bed Bath & Beyond has launched multiple options for same-day home delivery. Customers selecting home delivery on the Bed Bath & Beyond and buybuy BABY websites will have their orders fulfilled in stores by personal shoppers working with Shipt , a division of Target.

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DICK’S Sporting Goods Adds Six New Discount Concept Stores

Retail TouchPoints

In June , DICK’S Sporting Goods launched its two new discount-focused store concepts — DICK’S Sporting Goods Warehouse and OVERTIME by DICK’S Sporting Goods — with the opening of five Warehouse and three OVERTIME locations. This month, the retailer will open five more Warehouse stores and one additional OVERTIME location. DICK’s also is expanding the footprint of its predominant DICK’S Sporting Goods brand with four new stores and one combination DICK’S and Golf Galaxy location

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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.

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Lowe’s Dedicates Another $100 Million To Frontline Associate Bonuses

Retail TouchPoints

Lowe’s will pay its frontline employees an additional $100 million in bonuses, bringing the retailer’s total commitment to associates and communities during the pandemic to more than $450 million. The money is being offered to recognize the work they have done for the company during the COVID-19 crisis. All active hourly associates in Lowe’s U.S. stores, distribution centers and store support centers will receive the bonuses in mid-July.

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How AR-Powered Solutions Can Help Your Retail Enterprise Adapt in 2021

Retail TouchPoints

Retail businesses have faced myriad challenges in 2020. First came the COVID-19 outbreak, with a global recession close on its heels. Now, few experts have meaningful advice to offer beyond advising investment in ecommerce. Even so, online sales aren’t always enough to keep brick-and-mortar retailers out of bankruptcy. To future-proof your business, you need to think beyond social distancing precautions and reimagine the customer experience from the ground up.

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Harry Rosen Goes ‘Headless’ to Support Digital Service Shift

Retail TouchPoints

Associates play a crucial in the omnichannel customer experience. They create a face for the brand and use their personal experiences and opinions to guide shoppers seamlessly through the decision-making journey. But with the industry’s “great digital shift” accelerated by COVID-19, retailers have had to find ways to use technology to support their people — especially store stylists.

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Is Black Friday Still Relevant in 2020?

Retail TouchPoints

There is no doubt that retailers have faced many struggles as a result of the pandemic. Brick-and-mortar stores were forced to shutter around the country, forcing retailers to amplify their ecommerce efforts, with varying levels of success. Many struggled to adapt, resulting in a record number of bankruptcies, and in some cases complete closures, including industry stalwarts like Neiman Marcus, Lord & Taylor and J.Crew.

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Disruption Reimagined: How to Conquer, Not Crumble, During Supply Chain Instability

Speaker: Robyn O’Brien - Founder of Sirona Ventures, Adjunct Professor at Rice University’s Business School, Supply Chain Optimization and Logistics Expert

Today’s supply chain leaders are required to stay strong in the face of disruption and not only accept it, but embrace it – after all, progress is made outside of your comfort zone. While it’s easier said than done, conquering the fear of instability in your supply chain is within your reach. Thanks to the advancement of technology and AI, we now have more tools and resources at our disposal than ever before to conquer, not crumble, in the face of uncertainty.

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Q2 Results: Target Boosts Online Sales 195%, Walmart’s Grow 97%

Retail TouchPoints

Retail industry giants Target and Walmart continued to benefit from their status as essential retailers equipped with strong e-Commerce operational capabilities in Q2. In good news for their bottom lines, both retailers achieved significant sales growth, both online and in-store, while also improving margins. Target achieved a record-setting 24.3% increase in comp sales for the three months ended Aug. 1, 2020, rising from $18.2 billion last year to $22.7 billion this year.

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Dunkin’ Brands Acquired by Inspire Brands for $11.3 Billion

Retail TouchPoints

Inspire Brands will purchase Dunkin’ Brands , parent company of Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins , in a transaction valued at approximately $11.3 billion. Dunkin’ will join a restaurant portfolio of more than 11,000 locations, across brands including Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, SONIC Drive-In and Jimmy John’s. The deal will nearly triple Inspire’s footprint, with the addition of more than 12,500 Dunkin’ and almost 8,000.

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Fender Breaks Ecommerce Records with ‘Play Through’ Online Music Lessons

Retail TouchPoints

Despite the turmoil COVID-19 has caused for the retail industry, brands across many categories have found innovative ways to stay connected to their communities and continue to generate business revenue, especially through ecommerce. Instrument maker Fender , for example, wanted to find a way to keep consumers engaged despite its dealer network being disrupted by store closures.

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Amazon Orders 1,800 Mercedes-Benz Electric Vans For European Delivery Partners

Retail TouchPoints

Amazon is purchasing 1,800 electric vehicles (EVs) from Mercedes-Benz Vans for its European last-mile delivery fleet almost one year after becoming the first signatory of the Climate Pledge — a commitment to meeting the goal of net zero annual carbon emissions 10 years earlier than the Paris Agreement. Amazon’s Delivery Service Partners are expected to have access to the new fleet of zero-emission vehicles by the end of 2020.

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The Flawless Clarity® Intensive: Create a New Vision for Your Business

Join DeAnna McIntosh for an experience in ideating, journaling, and strategic planning, accompanied by a physical box with tools, to help you create the vision and growth plan for the future of your business.