eCommerce

The NRF annual “Big Show” conference is always marked by a few key technology trends. While the event has been known to throw a few unexpected surprises at attendees, usually it confirms and advances the direction industry momentum has been traveling.

Here are three major themes that will likely be prominently featured and discussed at this year’s NRF conference, which runs January 17 - 20, at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City.

‘Omnichannel’ Comes of Age

Vertical specialty denim retailer Lucky Brand is bringing together disparate parts of its business onto one platform.

Lucky Brand has implemented NetSuite OneWorld to run a variety of omnichannel business processes across its consumer- and business-facing operations. These include inventory management, procure-to-pay, fixed assets, and multi-currency and multi-tax compliance management.

Concord, California-based specialty beverage retailer BevMo is ensuring customers have easy access to products, whether they are in one of its 157 stores or online.

Walmart said it will close 269 stores worldwide this year, including many of its smallest stores, in an unprecedented move CEO Doug McMillon characterized as being more disciplined about growth.

It was a big season for online retailers. From November through December 2015, the final sales tally exceeded $83 billion (12.7% more than the year before). Cyber Monday alone ended up being the single largest online shopping day in history, generating over $3 billion in sales.

Has founder and ousted CEO Dov Charney made his last stand at American Apparel?

The board of American Apparel Inc. rejected a $300-million takeover bid from Hagan Capital Group and Silver Creek Capital Partners — the investors aligned with Charney — according to the Los Angeles Times.

Move over, Amazon, Target and Google – the fresh delivery space is getting a little more crowded.

FreshDirect, the New York-based online provider of custom and prepared grocery items and meals, is launching a mobile one-hour fresh item delivery service.

Costco hopes to sell more high-definition televisions and merchandise in clubs after going live with its revamped Costco TV Network.

The warehouse club leader deployed 4K technology to its existing in-warehouse TV network in a move designed to boost sales of televisions and help brands who use the network’s promotional capabilities better connect with shoppers. Powered by PRN, a division of Stratacache and longtime Costco partner, the TV network is in all 487 of the retailer’s U.S. clubs.