Amazon pulls some children’s products after slogan backlash

January 30, 2018

A range of products featuring the slogan, "Slavery gets sh&t done," are now off the virtual shelves at Amazon following a backlash from anti-slavery…

A new era of content management, strategic collaboration

by Chris Petersen — Owner, IMS

Blogger Chris H. Petersen explains the changes relating to content and consumer behavior and expectations. Transformation from physical to digital retail has…

Walmart partners with Japan e-commerce player Rakuten

January 29, 2018

Walmart is teaming up with Rakuten, Japan’s biggest ecommerce retailer, on an online grocery effort in Japan, according to an NPR report.

Kroger, Alibaba in talks on partnership, claims report

January 29, 2018

Kroger and Alibaba are reportedly discussing a partnership, according to CNBC.

A CES lesson: Why more is not better — only better is better

by Chris Petersen — Owner, IMS

Chris Petersen explains why adding more technology does not mean consumers will come or buy.

Walmart layoffs to hit about 500 jobs

January 26, 2018

While it recently announced it was boosting its hourly wage, Walmart is slashing 400 to 500 jobs at its headquarters, according to a Fortune report.

Starbucks goes cashless at downtown Seattle store

January 26, 2018

Starbucks has gone cashless at one location in downtown Seattle as the coffee giant experiments with a growing trend among fast casual chains in the U.S.

Boxed.com may be focus of a bidding war

January 26, 2018

The Boxed.com start-up, which has been dubbed "Costco for millennials," is getting potential funding attention from some big names, including General Mills…

Why 1-800-Flowers, eBay, Cosabella are hot for AI

by Judy Mottl — Editor, RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com

Three successful and growing retailers share insight on why each is embracing artificial intelligence to drive the retail customer experience forward.

New York City Nike customer experiences rankle neighbors

January 25, 2018

The Nike store at 22 Mercer St., in New York City, is engaging with customers in a big way, but it's rubbing its neighbors the wrong way.

Toys 'R' Us shuttering 180 stores in bankruptcy strategy

January 24, 2018

About 180 Toys "R" Us stores will be closing their doors as the struggling retailer continues its reorganization strategy related to its bankruptcy in the fall…

CES 2018 reveals how retail is changing

by Jeff KAGAN — Wireless Analyst, Telecom Industry Analyst

Anyone attending CES 2018 this year couldn't but help notice the annual conference revealed one big truth, writes industry analyst Jeff Kagan. That big truth…

Consumers like self-service more than associate interaction, reveals survey

January 24, 2018

If consumers have a choice they're more likely to tap self-service technology versus interacting with a retail sales associate, according to a SOTI survey.

Diebold Nixdorf names Mark Brewer SVP, managing director for global retail

January 24, 2018

Mark S. Brewer has been named senior vice president and managing director, global retail, for Diebold Nixdorf.

Customer experience key to success, reveals survey

January 24, 2018

Retailers can do a lot of things to boost the business and bottom line, but the big key factor is delivering a robust and satisfactory customer experience.

Amazon Go disrupts, re-invents, elevates the customer experience

by Judy Mottl — Editor, RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com

Amazon's supermarket, which boasts a cashier-less checkout, is open to the masses after a year in beta with Seattle-based company employees. Industry pundits…

Business agility key priority but no one wants to spearhead it

January 23, 2018

A West Monroe Partners survey reveals that while business agility is a top focus, few executives are willing to take ownership of the critical strategy.

Study: Retail industry sales growth to hit 3% annually through 2021

January 23, 2018

The retail industry sales outlook is pretty healthy, with a 3 percent annual growth rate through the next three years, according to a Zebra Technologies-IHL…

Retailers face a stark choice for 2018: Embrace empathy or lose customers

Oisin Lunny, chief evangelist for OpenMarket, offers up insight on why empathy must be a focal point for retailers as empathy is all about connecting with…

Amazon Prime membership gets more expensive for some

January 22, 2018

Amazon is increasing the cost of its monthly Prime subscription service, from $10.99 to $12.99, which represents an increase of 18 percent.