Defining the role of agentic AI in the retail customer experience

by Judy Mottl — Editor: RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com, Connect Media

It’s rare to go more than a day without industry insight or retailer news that doesn’t involve agentic AI. Despite its great potential to impact CX agentic AI…

Tariff timeline: White House actions, declarations, reversals

by Judy Mottl — Editor: RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com, Connect Media

Given the tariff impact to the retail industry RetailCustomerExperience is keeping a timeline of tariff pronouncements.

Michael’s ‘Ask Mike' AI helper fuels nearly 75K shopper conversations

August 7, 2026

Michaels, a hobby and crafts retailer, launched an AI assistant called "Ask Mike," in the spring and it has fueled nearly 75,000 conversations since its May…

NJ governor signs law banning surveillance pricing

August 7, 2026

Surveillance pricing, which is using data to set and changes prices in retail establishments, is now illegal in New Jersey.

Costco teams with Trinity Energy in quest for commercial energy independence

August 6, 2026

Costco Wholesale is going off grid in launching an independent, on-site energy system at its Port St. Lucie, Florida distribution center.

Frontier deploying Starlink onboard Wi-Fi next year

August 6, 2026

Frontier Airlines reported a record-setting revenue in Q2, due to a 38% year-over-year increase.

What Amazon's Q2 earnings reveal about consumer needs, expectations

by Judy Mottl — Editor: RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com, Connect Media

While Amazon’s earnings reveal Amazon Web Services is driving big growth the data also reveals competitors have an opportunity to beat the omnichannel retailer.

Dry cleaner deploys automated kiosk

July 31, 2026

California dry cleaner Four Seasons Cleaners has introduced a fully automated, 24/7 dry-cleaning drop-off and pickup kiosk at its State Street location in…

Toshiba leader talks customer experience, mobile-first strategy

Eric Williams, senior account executive at Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions, shares insight on changing customer expectations, the value of a mobile-first…

Presented by Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions, Inc.

Amazon ‘Hear’ audio shopping features offers real-time chat

July 29, 2026

Amazon has launched an AI-powered shopping feature called 'Hear the highlights' where consumers can ask questions and get real-time answers.

Michaels debuts experiential store format

July 27, 2026

Craft retailer Michaels is debuting an experiential store format featuring hubs for creativity and celebration.

No food court, samples or toilet paper. Just gas at a California Costco

July 24, 2026

Costco is launching gas-only locations. That's right. No toilet paper, no $1.50 hotdog, no pharmacy.

Driving grocery customer loyalty with logistics automation

by Adam Gurga — Director of Sales, Cimcorp North America

Retailers that invest in modern fulfillment solutions are building the foundations for stronger supply chain networks and stronger relationships with customers.

Beauty retailer deploys AI kiosks for international customers

July 22, 2026

CJ Olive Young, South Korea's largest health and beauty retailer, is deploying artificial intelligence-powered kiosks in its stores to improve the shopping…

Proposal would require self-checkout discounts

July 22, 2026

A New York state lawmaker has proposed requiring retailers and supermarkets to give customers a 10% discount when they use self-checkout kiosks, according to a…

Busy Baby Vending machine launches in UK

July 21, 2026

A Dundee, Scotland, entrepreneur has launched what she believes is the U.K.'s first vending machine dedicated to baby essentials, according to a Yahoo News…

Import cargo may set new record as potential August tariffs loom

July 21, 2026

Import volume at major U.S. container ports is forecast to hit a new all-time record this month, driven by retailers stocking up ahead of expected tariff…

National Retail Solutions (NRS) Employees Roll Up Their Sleeves for Company Blood Drive at Newark Headquarters

National Retail Solutions (NRS), a leading provider of point-of-sale (POS) solutions for independent retailers, hosted an employee blood drive at its Newark…

In retail, automation isn’t the problem. Untested customer journeys are.

by Mark Rohan — Co-founder and COO, Klearcom

In retail, trust is built during the full customer journey, not during just the AI interaction. That’s why monitoring needs to become as central to contact…

Let's Talk Retail Episode 7: Part 3: How a Mobile First Strategy Enhances the Retail Journey

Retailers make stronger business decisions when they have a clear understanding of customer needs and market conditions. This episode explores how customer…