The future of retail: More tech and even more human

Matt Matsui, senior vice president of products and strategy at Calabrio, says digital transformation isn't just coming — it's finally here and retailers must…

Amazon shuttering Whole Food's reward program

April 25, 2018

Fulfilling a statement made early on following its acquisition of Whole Foods, Amazon is closing down the grocer's less than one-year old rewards program and…

Mobile pay, AI, biometrics bringing new muscle to automatic merchandising

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

The National Automatic Merchandising Association trade show floor featured POS equipment tailored to a consumer who is comfortable with mobile payment, and…

Wayfair launches one-day Way Day retail shopping experience

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

There's Black Friday and Cyber Monday and now comes Way Day, which will take place April 25 at Wayfair.com. The retailer is launching its own retail 'holiday…

Saks Fifth Avenue window display now home to tattoo artist

April 23, 2018

In what has to be one of the most unique cross-brand strategies in retail, high-end luxury retailer Saks Fifth Avenue is taking a unique window display…

Meijer hops on scan-and-pay bandwagon

April 23, 2018

Meijer is the latest supermarket chain to jump on the shop-and-scan bandwagon and will roll out the technology to all its stores by the end of the summer…

Target launches drive-up pickup service

April 23, 2018

Target is offering customers a new way to grab what they need from the retailer with its new "Drive Up" service available in Florida, Texas and throughout the…

Evolving payments tech challenges merchants to keep pace with shoppers' expectations

by Will Hernandez — Editor, NetWorld Media Group

Retailers must be aware of what's changing in payments to better serve their customers. That was the overarching message to retailers from a group of…

Walmart building, remodeling and tapping interactive displays

April 19, 2018

Walmart is building 20 new stores and remodeling hundreds of existing locations, mostly in Florida and Texas, with new designs on everything from aisle layout…

Amazon offering in-home gadget service

April 19, 2018

On the heels of announcing a partnership with Best Buy to sell its Fire-enabled televisions, Amazon is reportedly also setting up its own 'Geek Squad…

Amazon partners with Best Buy on Amazon Fire TV strategy

April 19, 2018

Amazon is partnering with Best Buy in an exclusive agreement to sell its Amazon Fire smart televisions sold via Best Buy's Insignia brand and Toshiba.

Are you an innovative customer whisperer?

by Chip Bell — Customer Loyalty Consultant/Author, Chip Bell Group

Chip R. Bell explains why retail success starts with customer intelligence that provokes insight, not just customer information, and includes shifting the…

Study: Consumers don't mind sharing data for a better retail customer experience

April 18, 2018

Nine out of 10 consumers are okay with brands knowing more about them if it helps deliver a more rewarding and satisfying shopping experience.

Intel's Christie Rice talks customer experience, digital innovations

by Christopher Hall — director, ICX Association

The ICX Association sat down with Intel’s Christie Rice, worldwide global digital signage and interactive kiosk segment director for the Intel's IoT Group, to…

How major mergers are changing your favorite private brands

by Bryan Pearson — President, LoyaltyOne

Bryan Pearson ponders what will happen to the Whole Foods brand now living under the ever expanding Amazon umbrella.

TGI Fridays focused on personal, genuine customer interaction

April 17, 2018

TGI Fridays is partnering with SessionM, a customer data and engagement platform, to enhance its omnichannel strategy and drive stronger connection with…

Walmart prepping hundreds of high-tech pickup towers

April 17, 2018

In the quest to provide consumers fast and easily product pick up, Walmart plans to expand its 'high-tech' pickup towers at stores. In the past year Walmart…

Why retail cashierless checkout, a.k.a. Amazon Go, faces more than a few challenges ahead

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

While Amazon preps to expand Amazon Go, its cashierless retail shopping strategy, Berkeley Research Group leader Keith Jelinek offers insight on what's ahead…

How to boost retail operational efficiency via process management

Mark Holenstein, COO at Signavio, maps out why having the best omnichannel strategy is not only important, but necessary when competing with other high-volume…

Survey: Consumers want Amazon-like store experience

April 16, 2018

Consumers, especially millennials, are increasingly expecting an "Amazon-like" experience when in a retail store environment and that means retailers need to…