eCommerce

Listening to Walmart describe enhancements to its online shopping experience — improved navigation, increased localization, simplified checkout — it sounds like the retailer is talking about its physical stores.

Whether online or in stores, the touch points the shopper experiences on their path to purchase have much in common. No surprise then that the range of enhancements Walmart said it made to its site this week are focused on the same things all retailers focus on to create a positive physical experience.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is updating its website with new features and enhancements to provide shoppers with a more personalized, faster and improved shopping experience.
   

San Francisco – Out-of-stocks and placement continue to be key issues for back-to-school retail efforts. According to a field study of 465 retailers across the U.S. from mobile contractor Gigwalk, 47% of the retailers visited had an issue with their back-to-school displays.

Forty-five percent were due to the product being out of stock, followed by missing price and having the product in the wrong display. Other findings include:

• 49% plan to spend more this back-to-school season.

Recent enhancements to Walmart’s website ensure that Andy Murray, the company’s SVP of creative, will have plenty to talk about later this year when he addresses the topic of “Evolving with the omnichannel shopper,” at the Shopper Marketing Conference & Expo.
 

Wallingford, Conn. -- Edible Arrangements announced the acquisition of the FruitFlowers brand, including two company stores, all e-commerce operations and a portfolio of trademarks that includes Incredibly Edible Delites, FruitFlowers  and Fruitflowers.com.

Frankfurt, Germany – Germany-based airport management services provide the Fraport Group has expanded its international portfolio in the global airport market by acquiring 100% of U.S.-based AMU Holdings Inc., which owns Airmall USA Holdings Inc. Airmall markets space at the aviation hubs of Baltimore, Boston, Cleveland and Pittsburgh.

Kansas City, Kansas -- Bath & Body Works will open a 3,010-sq.-ft. store at designer outlet Legends Outlets Kansas City on Aug. 4.

Bath & Body Works will occupy the space next to Ann Taylor Factory Store by the Civic Courtyard Fountain.  

Other recent additions at Legends Outlets Kansas City include the only area Pizza Studio, Woody’s Automotive concept, Nail Envy spa and the Coach Factory pop-up location.