Walmart greeters will soon be waving goodbye

March 4, 2019

The familiar greeters at Walmart stores are being transformed into 'customer hosts,' who will do much more than welcome customers.

Mastering the art of digital and physical: How retailers can champion customer experience from start to finish

Brad Snedeker, director of innovation at Calabrio, explains that retailers aiming to blend the physical and digital need to embrace end-to-end omnichannel…

Podium named to most innovative list for 2019

February 28, 2019

Interaction management platform Podium has landed on Fast Company's annual list of the world's most innovative companies for 2019.

Mobile coupons spurring loyalty, customer engagement

Retailers and others have transitioned physical coupons to the mobile space, as a way to enhance customer loyalty and engagement.

Markdowns costing retailers $300B in revenue

February 25, 2019

A Coresight Research and Celect study states retailers lost $300 billion in revenue in 2018 due to product markdowns.

Lloyds Bank debuting cashback pilot at retailers

February 22, 2019

Lloyds Banking Group has launched a pilot program to incentivize retailers to give cash back at the point of sale in response to criticism that consumers are…

Soho retailer entices Valentine’s Day shoppers with jewelry kiosk

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Marla Aaron, a jewelry designer, developed a vending kiosk to sell jewelry, which has generated interest in a museum, a hotel garden and now a women's…

NRF on State of Union: Top priority is to keep economy moving forward

February 8, 2019

The National Retail Federation, in response to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address this week, agrees the economy is "sound," and said the top…

Amazon sales up but a bit slower growth this past holiday season

February 5, 2019

Amazon's sales are still going up but not as fast as in the past, and it's spending more than ever on shipping to lure customers.

More jobs in January, but unemployment jumps a bit

February 4, 2019

The government shutdown, so far at least, isn't having a big impact on the U.S. workforce as 304,000 jobs were added last month.

Ensuring peak holiday season performance in 2019

Don White, vice president of enterprise solutions at Snapfulfil, believes now is the time for retailers to assess and review the past holiday season…

Personalization, customization technologies gaining clout in retail

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Virtual shopping and shopper personalization were twin themes during the recent CES show in Las Vegas. A pair of sessions, "Shopping as a virtual adventure…

Report: AI will disrupt US job market

January 31, 2019

Those fearing that automation will put the U.S. worker out to pasture won't like the insight from a Brookings Institution report that claims 25 percent of U.S.

NRF Big Show Report: Amazon Go competitors offer up alternative cashierless approaches

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

The NRF Big Show in New York City debuted a host of cashierless checkout technologies hoping to capitalize on the interest generated by Amazon Go.

How the Amazon effect is disrupting e-commerce logistics

Inbal Axelrod, co-founder and CMO at MyRouteOnline, explains why retailers must gear up and prepare for more shift and change in the market, all while adapting…

Stanley Security debuts retail reporting, video surveillance for loss prevention needs

January 25, 2019

Stanley Security is launching Trends, an exception-based reporting and video surveillance for retail organizations aiming to reduce retail shrinkage, boost…

C-store chain to launch AiFi checkout-free technology

January 22, 2019

Zabka, a chain of convenience stores operating more than 5,400 sales points throughout Poland, will introduce stores featuring AiFi's artificial intelligence…

Ingenico debuts AI-based payment chatbot enabled by IBM Watson

January 22, 2019

Ingenico Group launched a messaging chatbot that uses artificial intelligence from IBM Watson to help merchants conduct payment transactions with customers…

Stop & Shop preps driverless cars for Boston delivery

January 21, 2019

Stop & Shop will launch a number of driverless groceries in the Greater Boston area starting this spring.

Long Island outlet operator giving gift cards to furloughed workers

January 21, 2019

The Tanger Center outlet on Long Island, New York is providing gift cards to federal workers not getting paid during the government shutdown.