News Briefs

A global British athletic retailer is offering pay-over-time options in a new partnership.

JD Sports is teaming with payment network Affirm to let customers pay over time at more than 500 JD Sports and Finish Line locations nationwide, as well as online through the Affirm app. 

"At JD Sports, we’re committed to giving our customers the freedom to shop the latest sports fashion and footwear, while maintaining full control over their finances," said Henry Spear, JD Sports senior VP of digital operations. "We’re excited to partner with Affirm, and we know our customers will appreciate the added flexibility and transparency that Affirm offers as they shop."

In-store shoppers can snap a scan of the QR code at checkout with their smartphone to get started, while in-app shoppers can select Affirm as a payment option on the store page. 

Via either channel, shoppers will go through a quick eligibility check. If approved, they will see customized biweekly and monthly payment plans, with as low as 0% APR, and no late or hidden fees.

"In October, Affirm saw a 50% year-over-year increase in purchases at sporting goods retailers, indicating significant demand for sports fashion and footwear this holiday season," said Pat Suh, Affirm senior VP of revenue. "Through our partnership with JD Sports, we’re making it easier than ever to shop responsibly, whether on the go or at home."

[READ MORE: JD Sports revamps search functionality with AI]

Established in 1981 in England, JD Sports is a multichannel retailer of branded sports and casual wear with over 3,000 stores in 32 territories worldwide.

One-third of the U.S. retail workforce is not given a dedicated mobile device today, with the largest retailers being least likely to give each employee a device for their exclusive use.

That's according to a new  study conducted for Zebra Technologies by Coresight Research, which found that 34% of U.S. retail employees, or 7.7 million associates in all, lack mobile devices for their exclusive use.

The report, "Success at Hand: Equipping Frontline Workers with More Mobile Devices to Drive Revenue and Delight Customers,"  indicates that 40% of employees working for large retailers either have to share a mobile device or go without one. Mass merchandisers and companies with over $1 billion in revenue ranked above average in terms of the proportion of workers without their own mobile devices at their companies.

Those who work in store operations (42%), merchandising (37%) or on the store floor (34%) are the least likely to have dedicated devices even though they are often considered to be among the most mobile-dependent team members and highly influence shopper satisfaction ratings.

The percentage of employees at surveyed U.S. retail organizations who do not use mobile devices varies by business function:

• Store operations 42%.
• Merchandising 37%.
• Store floor 34%.
• Field mobility and operations 34%.
• Warehouse operations 31%.
• Inventory management 30%.
• Ominchannel and fulfillment operations 29%.
• Checkout experience 29%.

U.S. retailers not equipping their employees with mobile devices provided the following reasons (more than one reason accepted):

• Skills and talent shortage 35%.
• Data and security concerns 31%.
• Vendor lock-in and standards 29%.
• Management approval and support 28%.
• Technical issues and maintenance 28%.
• Cost of implementation 27%.
• ROI uncertainty 26%.
• Insufficient IT infrastructure 25%.
• Complexity of integration 25%.
• Resistance from employees 23%.

When asked what benefits they would expect to receive from equipping employees with mobile devices, respondents ranked improved employee satisfaction, improved operational efficiency, and better customer satisfaction as the top three. 

Respondents also rated increased efficiency of daily operational tasks, enhanced communication between staff members, and integration of various payment methods as the top three workflows that would benefit from mobile enablement.

“Most people are accustomed to always having mobile devices in their hands,” said Deborah Weinswig, CEO, Coresight Research. "When they don’t have one, workers feel disconnected from the people, tools, and information they rely on to do their jobs well."

Coresight Research conducted three online surveys of decision-makers at US-based retailers on behalf of Zebra Technologies between November 2022 and July 2024. Image courtesy of Ground Picture.

The amount parents plan to spend on holiday gifts this year depends on their age and how many kids they have.

That’s according to a new survey of 467 moms from pregnancy and parenting outlet What to Expect, which found that on average, parents spend $173 per child each holiday season. Parents with more than one child spend 18% less per child on average than those with one kid. This year, parents with only one child plan to spend $202 on presents, and if there's a sibling at home, they are expected to spend $170 on each child.

Looking closer at the child's age only changes the amount slightly: Kids ages one to four are expected to get $161 worth of presents, while babies 12 months and under are expected to get $168 worth of presents.

[READ MORE: TD Bank: Holiday shoppers shifting from traditional presents to experiences]

On average, Gen Z parents plan to spend $179 on each child, while millennials plan to spend $170 per kid. 

The difference in spending may come as a surprise considering these younger moms earn less than their elder counterparts. Gen Z moms in the survey have an average household income of $56,021, compared to the $76,747 that millennial moms earn annually.

According to a recent analysis from Forrester, total holiday retail sales in the U.S. will grow 3.7% year-over-year and reach $1 trillion in 2024, up from $964 billion during the 2023 holiday season. This predicted annual growth is lower than the previous four years but higher than the average of pre-pandemic years.

7-Eleven Inc. is teaming up with an online lottery courier service to serve customers in two states.

The convenience store giant is collaborating with Jackpot.com to exclusively enable its customers in Ohio and Massachusetts to sign up and play lottery games and scratchers on the Jackpot.com app or website. 

The program will initially be launched in more than 600 7-Eleven and Speedway stores in Ohio and Massachusetts, with a special launch promotion that gives 7-Eleven customers a free lottery ticket on their first deposit by using promo code, "7Eleven."

Jackpot.com has invested in protocols to allow customers of legal age to set spend limits and limits on daily deposits while providing access to local and national responsible gambling resources, self-exclusion, self-suspension and automated notifications that offer help should problematic behavior be detected.

"We're thrilled to work with 7-Eleven, the leading retailer of lottery tickets in the country," said Akshay Khanna, CEO and co-founder of Jackpot.com. "Leveraging our technology and innovation, we can provide additional convenience for their customers, while adding an additional source of revenue. A true win-win relationship for all."

7-Eleven is digitally expanding access to lottery services as it plans to build 500 new stores nationally between 2025-2027. The retailer is also deploying its Gulp Radio network, which delivers localized, targeted advertising and messaging to shoppers via in-store audio, across the U.S. in the next year.

[READ MORE: 7-Eleven in big expansion of its commercial radio network]

Based in Irving, Tex., 7-Eleven Inc. operates, franchises and/or licenses more than 13,000 stores in the U.S. and Canada. In addition to 7-Eleven stores, the company operates and franchises Speedway, Stripes, Laredo Taco Company, and Raise the Roost Chicken and Biscuits locations.

Verizon is personalizing and streamlining its app-based shopping and customer service experience with leading-edge artificial intelligence technology.

The wireless device and services retailer is launching an upgraded version of its myVerizon app for consumers and associates equipped with a number of new features supported by generative AI. 

Consumer features

On the consumer side, these features include a new streamlined user interface designed to deliver results within seconds, offering 24/7 availability. In addition, customers can leverage the myVerizon app to order products online and use Verizon express lockers to pick them up on the same day, as well as to order same-day delivery and expert in-home setup.

Customer service features

On the customer service side, a generative AI-based personal research assistant provides customer service representatives with analysis of thousands of resources to deliver personalized information in an amount of time Verizon says is subtracting 30 seconds from average call times as it continues learning and developing.

For store associates and customer service representatives, personal shopper and problem solver features help them anticipate customer needs and provide faster, more accurate service. With these mobile tools working in the background, Verizon says it has reduced transaction times in its retail stores and on the phone by roughly three minutes.

[READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE Q&A: Mobile innovation transforms customer experience]

"Customers want personalized experiences, and we’ve been able to create those for them by putting our generative AI tools to work," said Sowmynarayan Sampath, CEO of Verizon’s consumer unit. "These experiences, combined with savings they can’t get anywhere else, should make holiday shopping stress-free. This way, our customers can focus on other things, like spending time with family and loved ones." 

The premium activewear brand co-founded by actor Mark Wahlberg and businessman Harry Arnett has opened  its second store and official company headquarters.  

Municipal has opened a 16,000-sq.-ft. flagship in Oceanside, Calif., which is in San Diego County. The expansive space features men’s and women’s apparel and footwear, along with an onsite café, studio and barber shop. There is also dedicated space for the company’s corporate employees.

Municipal, which launched online in 2020, opened its first permanent retail location in July, on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood, Calif. 

Looking ahead, the Oceanside store will serve as the blueprint for what Municipal calls its flagship retail concept. As for future locations, the company said it is not yet certain about the timing for next year as it will depend on how well the Oceanside locations performs and location availability, but the brand is definitely planning on expanding, a spokesperson said. 

Municipal describes itself as a premium performance and style-driven athletic and casual apparel brand blending comfort and functionality. Garments are designed with comfort in mind and are versatile enough for work, fitness and everything in between. At its core, Municipal is a "lifestyle, focused on the transformative power of self-belief," according to the company.