Retail

Roche Bros. may only operate 19 local stores, but still thinks big when it comes to meeting customer demand wherever it exists. The Massachusettes-based chain has selected Unata to build an enhanced e-commerce and omnichannel shopping experience. The new e-commerce platform will be available at 18 of its Roche Bros. and Sudbury Farms stores, which will feature a home delivery option in eastern and central Massachusetts and a curbside pickup option at a growing number of locations.

Birchbox has added two new executives to enhance the customer experience, hiring VPs in product management and creative.

Terre Layton was named global VP of product management and user experience, responsible for global product management, the product strategy and roadmap, and the user experience. She most recently worked at Sephora, where she served as head of front-end product management and led strategic digital innovation projects. She has also consulted for several beauty retailers and e-commerce companies.

Five retail chains rank among the top 10 brands doing a poor job when it comes to emotional engagement, a measure of how well brands meet consumer expectations, according to an annual survey.

The e-commerce giant has entered into an agreement with Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings for Atlas to operate 20 Boeing Co. cargo planes for Amazon. Atlas Air will operate the 20 converted freighters for Amazon on leases from seven to 10 years. “We are excited to welcome a great provider, Atlas Air, to support package delivery to the rapidly growing number of Prime members who love ultra-fast delivery, great prices and vast selection from Amazon,” said Dave Clark, Amazon’s senior VP of worldwide operations.

Everyone is talking about the huge impact millennials are having on retail. Also known as Gen Y, they are usually considered to occupy the 18-to-35 age demographic. But what about Gen Z, the younger siblings (or even children) of millennials?
 
Based on what we’ve seen so far, here are three ways Gen Z will change retail in the next few years.
 
Video Killed the Retail Star

Photos by Ben Rahn/A-Frame Studio

Canadian luxury outerwear brand Mackage returned to its hometown to open a sleek flagship that will serve as a prototype for the brand’s international rollout. The space evokes the dramatic beauty of artic winter landscapes, brought to life with luxurious materials.

New York City-based lifestyle apparel retailer, Nautica, a division of VF Corp., has opened a flagship in Manhattan, in the SoHo neighborhood. The 2,000-sq.-ft. store opening embodies the brand's refreshed marketing and design strategy which celebrates the company’s roots as well as its established nautical heritage.

Online consumers appear to be remembering Mom this year.

According to new data from the Adobe Digital Index, online sales in the important Mother’s Day gift categories of flowers/gifts and jewelry are both trending 2%-3% higher than they were in 2015.