Retail

San Francisco - Scandit, a developer of a software-based barcode scanning solution for smartphones, tablets and wearable devices, has released an integrated suite of mobile apps to enhance the consumer shopping experience and retail operations. Scandit’s Mobile App Suite for Retail provides a series of fully customizable, cross-platform mobile applications for retail employees and customers including: clienteling, mobile point-of-sale (mPOS), mobile shopping, self-checkout, shopping lists and procurement.

Milford, Conn. -- Subway announced the nationwide availability of contactless/NFC-based mobile payments in partnership with Softcard, completing a rollout that was announced earlier this month.   

In the future, Subway will integrate its card rewards program into the Softcard app in participating markets, providing a simpler way to earn reward points.

Greensboro, N.C. - Convenience store operator Mapco recently partnered with Gilbarco Veeder-Root to install the Impulse upselling platform across 220 sites by the end of 2014. Mapco, which operates 375 stores in the Southeast, is using the Impulse platform to drive dynamic digital content at both the point-of-sale and through their mobile application.

Lumber Liquidators has promoted Ray Cotton to SVP, chief compliance and sustainability officer. Cotton will continue to report directly to president and CEO Robert Lynch.  

Seattle - Starbucks Corp. opens its first community store in Korea, located in the Daehakro neighborhood of Seoul, on Oct. 1. Thirty cents from every purchase at this store will go to Green Umbrella ChildFund Korea (GUCFK) to directly support lifelong skills development for youth through the Starbucks Comprehensive Youth Leadership Program.

Coventry, England -- Cummins Allison, a leading provider of coin and currency handling solutions, announced that its customer, British grocery giant Tesco, has deployed self-service coin machines, enhancing customer service and solving a key space problem across multiple store locations in the U.K.

Austin, Texas - Based on previous savings experienced during the holiday season in 2013 and projected industry growth in 2014, U.S. shoppers have the opportunity to save more than $5 billion dollars by using deal and offer websites during the upcoming holiday season. According to a new study from RetailMeNot and Dr. Jason Abrevaya, Ph.D., economics department chair at the University of Texas at Austin, consumers have the potential to save more than $200 an hour while using RetailMeNot.com, or $34 in 10 minutes.

Dublin, Calif. - Ross Dress for Less will open two new stores in North Florida on Oct. 11. The stores are located in the Lakeland Park Center in Lakeland and Forest Lakes Plaza in Oldsmar.  

These new openings are part of the retailer’s 2014 expansion program, totaling approximately 75 new locations during the year.