Apple, Inc.

A cloud computing/e-commerce giant heads up Fast Company’s annual ranking of the 10 most innovative companies in retail. Amazon not only topped the retail sector category, it also came in number one in the overall World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies listing. (Rounding out the top five: Google, Uber, Apple and Snap.)

The Iowa-based Von Maur department store chain will be installing a 90,000-sq.-ft. location at PREIT’s Woodland Mall in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in a space to be vacated by Sears. A 2019 opening is planned.   A 145-year-old, family-owned chain of 31 stores in 14 states, Von Maur’s offerings aspired to the high end with brands like Eileen Fisher, Coach, and Tommy Bahama.  

Charlotte Tilbury is taking lipstick sampling to a new level.   The beauty brand is partnering with YouCam Makeup to deliver an interactive platform that allows users to virtually try on the brand’s 12 iconic lipstick shades — anywhere, anytime — right through their mobile device or tablet.   

Apple is going really big in Manhattan.   The retailer is expanding its flagship at the General Motors building on Fifth Avenue from its current 32,000-sq.-ft. to over 77,000 sq. ft. The Apple space is renowned for the glass cube located on the street level.    While the store is undergoing the expansion, Apple has temporarily moved into a space in the building that was formerly occupied by FAO Schwarz.     

When did washing dishes become more attractive than shopping?   In-store shopping has lost its allure for many shoppers, who are increasingly frustrated with brick-and-mortar stores that lack the convenience of online players, according to a new global report from Capgemini’s Digital Transformation Institute.    

Retail in 2016 had its share of ups and downs. While several major businesses filed for bankruptcy, others in the category saw incredible growth, leveraging technology to connect with customers in new and exciting ways. For instance, Walmart tripled its online catalog and opened more stores that allow shoppers to pick up online orders in-person. In an often-cluttered retail landscape, Walmart and others have shown that technology can be a key differentiator.   

A new year is upon us, with new challenges and new opportunities. At the same time, retailers continue to struggle with how to embrace the digital disruptors that are redefining the retail customer and retail experience. Because one thing is clear: They are here to stay.

Indeed, these agents of change continue to pop up on a daily basis, each one designed to transform the trajectory of retail — and brands with an eye on the future should want in. After all, what retailer doesn’t want to reinvent their enterprise, drive agility and foster customer engagement in a new way?

Seaport District

Location: Lower Manhattan, New York, N.Y.

Size: The transformed Seaport District will encompass seven buildings on several blocks totaling more than 400,000 sq. ft.

Developer: The Howard Hughes Corporation

Key tenants: iPic Theaters, 10 Corso Como, Scotch & Soda

Status: Pier 17, the property at the center of the Seaport’s development plan, is set to open next year.

The ordering app that Shake Shack has been testing in key urban markets like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles is now rolling out nationally.   Users pick their food items and extras on the app, pre-pay, designate a pick-up time from a selection of 15-minute increments, then retrieve their orders at a pick-up window. A list of past transactions allows them to re-order favorites.  

Amazon and Saks came out on top in the 12th annual ForeSee Experience Index (FXI), which identified the top brands for retail customer experience this holiday season across three channels: online, store and mobile.