eCommerce

In much the same way that warehouse club operators offer exclusive benefits to members so they upgrade to premium levels, Amazon continues to enrich offerings available to Prime members who pay an annual fee.

Think brick-and-mortar retail is doomed in an increasingly digital world? Visit Sephora, where consumers line up to sample the dizzying array of beauty products. Watch as a bunch of excited kids go through the rounds at Build-A-Bear-Workshop. Listen as a pharmacist at Walgreens gives some advice to a harried mom whose kids are coming down with something. Stop in at H-E-B, Whole Foods Market or some other great supermarket and breathe in the tantalizing aromas. Fool around with the latest gadgets at Apple or one of the new generation of AT&T and Verizon stores.

New York -- As technology transforms multichannel retail into hyper-channel, “always-on” retailing, chains must emotionally connect with consumers as never before, according to Joseph Bona. Bona, president of branded environments for New York City-based brand agency/retail design firm CBX, is one of the featured speakers at Chain Store Age’s upcoming 50th annual SPECS conference,  March 9 -12, Grapevine, Texas.

Speaking with Ron Goldstone, senior VP at Southfield, Mich.-based Farbman Group really got my juices flowing about the Midwest retail real estate marketplace — Michigan in particular. The state’s retail real estate market is an interesting candidate for closer study, simply because the Detroit dynamic, even in its extremes, gives us a valuable perspective on the national landscape:

Atlanta - Michael P. Ryan, operational VP of Aaron’s Inc., has been named VP of franchising. Todd Evans, current VP of franchising, will be leaving Aaron's to pursue other opportunities.

Henri Rogers, senior regional manager for Aaron's Three Rivers region, will succeed Ryan as divisional VP of northern operations.

By Jeff Weidauer, VP of Marketing and Strategy, Vestcom International

Webster defines technology as “the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry.” Put another way, technology is the use of knowledge that solves problems in a practical manner. It’s important to understand that, because when it comes to the concept of retail technology, history shows that too often the solution becomes a hammer looking for a nail.

New York -- The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case brought by former Amazon warehouse workers that could determine whether companies have to compensate employees for time spent undergoing end-of the-shift security searches.

Lease-to-own retailer Aaron's has named Michael P. Ryan as VP of franchising. He replaces Todd Evans, who will be exiting the company. Henri Rogers, currently senior regional manager for Aaron's Three Rivers region, will succeed Ryan as divisional VP of Northern operations.