News Briefs

A member of the Ace Hardware co-operative is building on an existing relationship with an enterprise solutions provider.

Ace Retail Holdings, a division of Ace Hardware Corporation, has selected Mi9 Retail as its enterprise retail partner for merchandising and POS technology. This implementation builds on years of an existing relationship in which Mi9 has been a partner to Ace Retail Holdings and its Westlake Ace chain.

"Our team conducted an exhaustive review of the top vendors in the space, and it was an intensive effort," said Joe Jefferies, president and CEO of Ace Retail Holdings. "We spent months reviewing the alternatives and kept coming back to Mi9 as the best fit of our needs now and for the coming period." 

[READ MORE: Ace Retail Holdings to expand Midwest footprint]

Chainwide, Ace Hardware which is celebrating its 100th year in business, is implementing advanced digital shelf label (DSL) technology from VusionGroup across its stores. The DSLs enable Ace Hardware to update pricing at the store level, in a matter of seconds. LEDs installed on each DSL offer expanded use for in-store picking, put to light, pick to light, and wayfinding for associates and customers.

Ace Retail Holdings currently owns and operates more than 250 Ace hardware stores nationwide under the Buikema's Ace, Dennis Company Ace, Great Lakes Ace, Westlake Ace, and Outer Banks Ace brands. Oak Brook, Ill.-based Ace Hardware Corp. operates more than 5,000 stores around the world, with a total annual revenue of approximately $6.9 billion. 

H&M Group has invested in a retail technology platform that empowers retailers, e-commerce businesses and brands to build long-lasting customer relationships.

The fashion giant has acquired a minority stake in Voyado, which is based in Stockholm. The platform drives profitable sales by optimizing e-commerce, creating personalized customer experiences and streamlining communication across channels, Voyado stated in a release.

H&M has been a Voyado customer for many years. The retailer said the investment is a natural evolution of their partnership, “strengthening collaboration and amplifying the impact of Voyado's solutions across global markets.”

"We are really impressed by Voyado's journey so far,” said Erik Lagerblad, head of H&M Group Ventures. “After rolling out their solution globally, we've seen firsthand the difference it makes in creating value at scale. That's why it makes perfect sense for the H&M Group to deepen our partnership through an investment, which will further support Voyado's future growth and strengthen their offering for other enterprise customers."

H&M’s investment comes as Voyado readies for its next growth phase: expanding into key markets such as the U.K. and Germany. 

"Our ambition is to establish Voyado as Northern Europe's most beloved retail tech companion while maintaining profitability and scalability,” said Erica Sandelin Ekelund, CEO of Voyado. “H&M Group's investment will provide additional resources and expertise to help us further develop our platform and support an increasingly international customer base, benefiting existing and new customers."

There’s been a shift in seasonal retail hiring  amid the rise of online shopping.

Retailers added 280,500 jobs in November, down 5% from the same month last year, according to an analysis by Challenger, Gray & Christmas using non-seasonally adjusted data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It is the second-lowest total for November after 263,200 seasonal retail jobs were added in 2022.

So far this season, retailers have added 414,400 seasonal jobs, down 7% from the 444,500 jobs added in October and November last year. Challenger predicted retailers would add 520,000 seasonal jobs in the fourth quarter down 8% from 564,200 added October through December 2023.

Transportation & Warehousing 

In the transportation and warehousing sector, employers have added 155,300 seasonal jobs in November, up 11% from the 140,300 jobs added in November last year. So far this quarter, employers in this sector have added 207,400 jobs, up 1% from the 204,700 seasonal positions employers in this sector added in October and November 2023.

“With the rise of online shopping, we’re seeing a shift in seasonal hiring from traditional retail roles to transportation and warehousing positions,” said Andrew Challenger, senior VP of Challenger, Gray & Christmas. “These jobs often come with higher wages and benefits, making them a more attractive option compared to some retail positions.”

Seasonal employers announced plans to hire 659,850 workers this season, the highest total since 2021, when hiring plans reached 961,300, according to Challenger’s tracking. The firm has tracked seasonal hiring plans since 2012.

Bloomingdale's has tapped a new e-commerce partner to improve the online shopping experience of customers.

The department retailer has launched a partnership with Lucky that will enable luxury brands to seamlessly connect their direct-to-consumer (DTC) websites with Bloomingdale's in-store inventory. Starting today, online shoppers can instantly check the availability of their favorite luxury products at their local Bloomingdale's stores while browsing their preferred brand's website.

The integration enables customers to make purchases through Bloomingdale's for same-day pickup or delivery, providing the most expedient way to acquire desired products from their local stores. Lucky says that brands will gain “unprecedented capabilities” to connect their customers with retail inventory and track conversions directly on their e-commerce websites.

[READ MORE: Salesforce: Global online holiday sales hit $849 billion so far]

"We are excited to partner with Bloomingdale's to transform the luxury shopping experience by bridging the gap between online discovery and immediate accessibility," said Sneh Parmar, CEO and co-founder of Lucky. "Bloomingdale's has been an innovative force in luxury retail, and integrating their inventory systems with Lucky's platform creates a powerful solution for brands and their customers. This partnership enables brands to offer their online customers instant access to Bloomingdale's curated departments, combining the convenience of digital shopping with the prestigious Bloomingdales experience."

A division of Macy’s, Inc., Bloomingdale's currently operates 32 full-line stores, 21 Bloomingdale's The Outlet stores and four Bloomie's stores. In addition, Bloomingdale's has an international presence with locations in Dubai and Kuwait. 

A regional Southern grocer is leveraging personalization and analytics to obtain new customer insights and deliver tailored digital engagement.

Brookshire Brothers, an employee-owned grocery chain which is based in Lufkin, Texas and operates grocery and convenience stores in Texas and western Louisiana under seven banners, is utilizing technology from Birdzi to provide shoppers with personalized digital coupons and ad flyers.

The retailer is deploying Birdzi solutions including the Visper shopper engagement and outreach solution, as well as its shopper analytics and customer data platform. 

“Brookshire Brothers believes in putting our customers first,” said John Alston, president and CEO, Brookshire Brothers. “Birdzi’s cutting-edge personalization tools allow us to quickly adapt to the unique needs of the customers served by our nearly 120 stores, ensuring we remain a trusted and valued community partner.”

Brookshire Brothers revamps end-to-end digital shopping experience

Brookshire Brothers is building on its deployment of digital tools from the eGrowcery food industry e-commerce platform which launched in January 2024. 

Features for shoppers include integrated coupon clipping and redemption, complex promotions, and enhanced support for two-way conversations between online customers and personal shoppers who select products by hand.

On the back end, the grocer will deploy a more efficient picking and fulfillment technology suite. The retailer intends to save labor time and money via this fully integrated fulfillment approach.

[READ MORE: Indiana grocer Strack & Van Til personalizes customer engagement]

“Birdzi proudly became the grocery industry’s most trusted personalization and customer intelligence platform in 2024,” said Shekar Raman, CEO and co-founder, Birdzi. “On average, our customers witnessed a 30% increase in basket size and a doubling of store visits. We look forward to continuing our hand-in-hand collaboration with Brookshire Brothers.”

WHP Global has added another brand to its growing portfolio. 

The New York-based brand management firm has agreed to acquire the intellectual property of the Vera Wang fashion brand. As part of the deal, Vera Wang will continue in her role as founder and chief creative officer and will join WHP Global as a shareholder, continuing to shape the brand's creative direction and future growth. 

Wang is expected to become part of WHP’s  new premium fashion vertical which includes Rag & Bone, Joe’s Jeans, and G-Star. The WHP portfolio, whose brands that collectively generate over $7 billion in global retail sales, also includes Toys”R”Us, Express, Anne Klein, Lotto and others.

"Vera Wang is a legend,” said Yehuda Shmidman, chairman and CEO of WHP Global. “Her name is synonymous with modernity, artistry and impeccable style. We are honored to partner with Vera Wang and look forward to building on the brand's remarkable legacy with new business opportunities around the world."

Financial terms of the transaction, which is expected to close in January 2025,  were not disclosed.

"WHP Global's forward-thinking approach perfectly aligns with my vision for the future,” said Wang, who founded the brand in 1990. “Together, we will push boundaries, exploring bold opportunities to expand into new categories and markets, all while staying true to the legacy of timeless sophistication and the distinctive style that defines Vera Wang.”

The Vera Wang brand generates over $700 million in annual retail sales across categories including women's apparel, bridal, men's tuxedos and suiting, fine jewelry, fragrance, and home, among others.