TECHNOLOGY

Walmart ups same-day delivery capabilities with Big Apple acquisition
Walmart is determined not to be bested by Amazon when it comes to same-day delivery. The discounter announced on Tuesday that it has acquired Parcel, a last-mile delivery startup that specializes in delivery of perishable items and general merchandise to customers in New York City. Operating out of a warehouse in Brooklyn, Parcel delivers goods the same-day, overnight and in scheduled two-hour windows, providing customers with live updates via text messages throughout the delivery process.
NRF: Holiday sales to increase 3.6% to 4%
One of the most closely watched holiday forecasts has good news for retailers. The National Retail Federation said it expects holiday retail sales in November and December to increase between 3.6% and 4% for a total of $678.75 billion to $682 billion. In 2016, up from $655.8 billion last year. The NRF forecast, which excludes automobiles, gasoline and restaurants, would meet or exceed last year’s growth of 3.6% and the five-year average of 3.5%.

Study: Walmart shoppers checking out Whole Foods Market

As Whole Foods Market continues to slash prices at its stores, the chain is attracting competitors’ shoppers — including those from Walmart. This was according to “Competitive Impact of Lower Prices at Whole Foods,” a report from data intelligence firm Thasos Group.
Nominations open for most influential women in retail tech

Who are the leading women working in retail technology? Chain Store Age is accepting nominations for its annual feature recognizing female executives who are helping to transform the retail industry through technology. The “Top 10 Women in Retail Tech” will celebrate the achievements of retail executives from all areas of technology. The winners will be profiled in a special section of the January 2018 issue of Chain Store Age, as well as in an online report on chainstoreage.com.
Study: Retailers cutting prices to compete with online players

Online-only retailers may be taking a toll on omnichannel companies, but traditional companies are finding ways to fight back. This was according to “Brick-and-Mortar Retailers Fight Back: Winning Strategies to Compete with Online-Only Players,” a report from Applied Predictive Technologies (APT).
Toy retailer prepares for newest business channel — an online marketplace

Toys “R” Us is adding a new customer touch-point that it will use to get merchandise into shoppers hands faster.
Coffee giant pulls the plug on online store

Starbucks Corp.’s online store has officially closed its virtual doors. The e-commerce site, which sold Starbucks’ branded merchandise — from mugs and coffee brewers to coffee, tea, and flavored syrups — shut down on Sunday, Oct. 1. The coffee giant decided to close the online store to focus on integrating its physical and digital channels, and to establish stores as destinations, according to Business Insider.
A Gap brand reaches for the cloud

A specialty retailer is streamlining its merchandising operations. Gap's Intermix division has become the company's first brand to transition to the cloud. The upscale specialty retailer is leveraging Oracle’s cloud-based platform to drive efficiencies across merchandising and inventory management. The platform supports end-to-end operational efficiencies and empowers the business teams among specialty apparel company Intermix.
Dollar General to offer tuition assistance

Dollar General wants to make it easier for its employees to pursue higher education. In a newly announced partnership with Bellevue University, all full-time and part-time Dollar General employees now qualify for $8,000 and $5,250 respectively in tuition assistance after working at Dollar General for a minimum of 30 days. Plus, immediate family members of employees are eligible for up to $2,625, as well.
Toys ‘R’ Us testing AR to make stores digital playgrounds

Toys "R" Us is doubling down on its new brand positioning, “Today We Play.” The retailer announced it has begun testing an augmented reality app, called Play Chaser, in 23 stores nationwide, with a chainwide roll-out planned for Oct. 21. Developed in partnership with PlayFusion, the free app allows users to activate different AR mini games and play experiences on their smart device while in Toys "R" Us stores.