In-Store Media

Specialty eyewear retailer Warby Parker is increasingly moving away from its roots as a pure-play e-commerce operation. In an interview with Re/Code, co-CEOs Dave Gilboa and Neil Blumenthal discuss how traditional channels like brick-and-mortar, as well as emerging channels like virtual reality, play a role in the company’s continuing evolution. [Re/Code]

U.S. consumers have named their top grocery chain, and for the first time in four years it isn’t Trader Joe’s.

Findings from an online study of more than 10,000 consumers conducted in February 2016 by Market Force Information revealed that Wegmans is America’s favorite grocery retailer. Wegmans was followed by Publix Super Markets and Trader Joe’s.

A new ad campaign from Food Lion, airing in select markets, promotes the message that the retailer has raised its standards, but not its prices.

The new campaign plays on familiar themes in the grocery industry — convenience, freshness, price and trust — and is designed to support Food Lion’s effort to upgrade the store experience in key markets, where major remodeling and remerchandising efforts have occurred.

Two major sustainability initiatives from H&M begin this month as the fast fashion retailer debuts a new line from Conscious Commerce co-founders Olivia Wilde and Barbara Burchfield and kicks off an apparel recycling effort.

The H&M Conscious Exclusive collection from Wilde and Burchfield will be available online at hm.com and in 165 stores beginning April 7. Meanwhile, H&M is set to begin is World Recycle Week initiative on April 18 which allows customers who drop off clothes at in-store collections bins to receive a 30% discount coupon.

For only the third time in three years, Kroger has created a new installment of its Savor World Flavor globally themed promotional effort.
 

Starbucks is one of the first brands to leverage a new music and entertainment media platform from PlayNetwork.

To further increase both customer and employee engagement, Starbucks can now enable partners (employees) to select in-store playlists and provide a uniquely curated listening experience for customers. The chain is using the platform in more than 7,500 U.S. stores.

The Container Store is teaming up with Goodwill on a new spring cleaning campaign with a philanthropic angle.

From now through May 15, The Container Store is encouraging customers to declutter and donate via two item donation weekend events at the retailer's locations nationwide, as well as a monetary donation initiative in partnership with Goodwill through the end of the campaign.

Online luxury consignment retailer The RealReal continues to make moves in the physical world as it seeks to simplify how customers interact with its innovative retail model.

San Francisco-based The RealReal began establishing a direct physical presence last August when it opened an office in New York City to authenticate and accept goods for sale, followed by a location this past February in Los Angeles. And it has now opened a third location focused on jewelry and watches in Chicago.

Stores devoted to women’s activewear (or athleisure) are one of the fastest- growing segments in retailing and now Tory Burch has joined the crowd. The company has opened Tory Sport in the Flatiron District of Manhattan. The store features the entire Tory Sport collection, which ranges from running gear to golf clothing, reported NY Racked, and has a decor inspired by different elements of sports. [NY Racked]

It’s been more than 15 years since they started ringing the death knell for brick-and-mortar retail. And although the Internet shopping base continues to grow, the in-store experience is here to stay. Even the doomsayers have quieted during recent years. There are simply too many things about in-store shopping that the online experience can’t offer.