TECHNOLOGY

Department store giant’s annual anniversary sale goes digital
Nordstrom is putting a modern spin on a 50-year-old tradition. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale — an event that launched in the 1960s — is stepping up its digital game this year. To drive customer engagement throughout the two-week event which kicks off on July 21, the department store giant teamed up with Snapchat to create a custom lens that features accessories that will be highlighted during the Anniversary Sale.
Discounter pulling plug on loyalty program
Target is discontinuing its mobile Cartwheel Perks rewards program, but new app-based improvements are underway. The discounter alerted shoppers participating across its five test markets via email that its “perks pilot is winding down.” Shoppers have until August 27, to collect points toward perks rewards, and all rewards must be redeemed by October 27, according to Target.

Amazon’s Treasure Truck gears up for a national expansion
Menswear retailer launches its first mobile app

Destination XL Group has a new way to connect with its loyal shoppers. The menswear retailer launched its first mobile app — a move that will help it engage shoppers whether they are on-the-go or in-store. Designed with mobile commerce provider PredictSpring, the app will help Destination XL create a more modern shopping experience.
Amazon adds a shoppable “Spark” to Prime

Amazon Prime is getting more social as the online giant looks for yet more ways to entice shoppers to buy. On Wednesday, the online giant launched Amazon Spark, a new shoppable social media feed for its Prime members. Described as “a place to discover things from people who share your interests,” Spark will help Prime users discover — and shop for -- merchandise found across followers’ stories and ideas, according to Amazon’s website.
Deloitte: Back-to-college spend to outpace back-to-school sales two-fold

Retailers who fail to promote back-to-college offers and savings this year do so at their own peril.
Target CEO: Hispanics are shopping less

An important demographic for many retailers appears to be staying home more these days. In remarks at Fortune’s Brainstorm Tech Conference in Aspen, Colorado, Target CEO Brian Cornell cited an 11% dip in shopping activity among Hispanic consumers in the past several months. (A Target spokesman said later he was referencing industrywide data from the NPD Group, The Star-Tribune reported.) “There’s almost a cocooning factor,” Cornell said.
HRC: Discounter tops with Gen Z for back-to-school shopping

Gen Z shoppers are gearing up to hit the stores for back-to-school purchases — and their top destination is Walmart. Thirty-six percent of boys and girls cite Walmart as their first choice for back-to-school shopping, more than double that of any other retailer, according to a survey conducted by strategic retail advisory firm HRC Retail Advisory.
Online giant quietly launches meal kits

Amazon isn’t wasting any time in entering the booming meal kit category.
Study: Loyalty programs need a digital boost

Expensive, ineffective loyalty programs are in need of a makeover. Retailers that shift to digital-centric programs that engage and promote brand advocacy will retain the loyalty of customers, according to the “Intelligence Report: Loyalty 2017.” The report, from L2, evaluates the successes and pitfalls of loyalty programs for 99 consumer brands across activewear, beauty, big box, department stores, and specialty retail.