TECHNOLOGY

Tech Bytes: eTail West 2017: Three Takeaways
As the industry remains on its path toward frictionless retail, there is one clear way to achieve this goal: embrace innovation. There is no denying that innovative solutions are the industry’s ticket to transforming operations, and eTail West 2017 was chock-full of ideas of how to make this transition. The hottest digital strategies that continue to shape retail run the gamut, from conversational artificial intelligence to redefined mobile strategies that center on personalization, virtual reality and digital payments.
Gen Z: Seven ways to win the next big consumer market and purchasing powerhouse
For good reason, retailers in recent years have sought to understand the shopping habits and preferences of the millennial generation. The oldest millennials, born in or after 1980, are now well into their thirties – and have certainly reached maturity as consumers. It’s now time to shift the focus and look at the next generation behind these millennials to see if they differ from their digital-savvy counterparts.

Trendy jewelry brand launches digital receipts

Pandora UK is embarking on a new strategy to engage with shoppers post-purchase. The jewelry retailer is partnering with Ecrebo to provide shoppers with digital receipts that are emailed to shoppers following their in-store transaction. When the receipt arrives in their inbox, shoppers have the option to opt-in to receive regular newsletters, and share feedback about their in-store experience.
Domino’s is upping the ante on voice-activated orders

Two new projects — on three continents — are expanding the reach of Domino’s conversational-based orders. The pizza giant, which was among the first companies to launch digital ordering on Google Home in December, is introducing the service to more users in the United States. Now guests can start a new order without having to be a member of the “Pizza Profile” rewards program — a move that opens up the service to more shoppers.
Survey: Gen Z loves digital shopping tools — and physical stores

Move over millennials, Gen Z is snapping at your heels. And retailers should take note. Retailers looking to capture share of wallet and brand loyalty from Gen Z – the most digitally- and socially-engaged generation to date — need to step up their focus on new ways of engagement. But they also should pay attention to their physical stores.
Nasty Gal to live on

Nasty Gal is getting a new lease on life — but only in the digital space. The brand, which was acquired out of bankruptcy in early February by British online fashion group Boohoo.com, will live on under new leadership as a pure player. Nasty Gal recently closed its two brick-and-mortar stores, both of which were in the Los Angeles area.
Survey: America’s favorite stores are…

A regional department store, a warehouse giant, a discount supermarket and an online powerhouse rank among the nation’s favorite retailers. That's according to the American Consumer Satisfaction Index, which rates consumers’ satisfaction across six retail industries. The report found that satisfaction with the overall retail trade rise 4.7% in 2016 to a score of 78.3 (on a 100-point scale) an all-time high for the sector.
Study: Marketers still rely heavily on email promotions to drive revenue

Email remains the go-to strategy for retailers to grab their piece of the digital pie — yet efforts don’t always meet their shoppers’ needs. Three-fourths (76%) of marketers said they rely heavily on email promotions to drive revenue, and one-third said more than half of all emails sent include a promotion or discount, according to a new survey from Coherent Path.
J.C. Penney extending appliances initiative

J.C. Penney is extending its appliance showroom footprint and also delving deeper into the category. The retailer will expand its in-store appliance showroom concept from its current 500 stores to an additional 100 locations in early 2017, and also add new appliance brands to the merchandise mix, company chairman and CEO Marvin Ellison said on Penney’s quarterly earnings call.
Study: Virtual reality market to hit $9.2 billion by 2021

The proliferation of cheaper, mass-produced consumer-grade virtual reality (VR) applications are finding their niche in retail. The technology, which was often synonymous with customized and expensive equipment, has been a long-time staple for military training, civil flight training, and industrial 3D modeling.