Loyalty Marketing

Walmart is not the only big-name retailer preparing a July 12 online sales extravaganza.   Toys “R” Us is launching an online discount event so simple even a child could take advantage of it. All day Tuesday, July 12, shoppers on the Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us e-commerce sites can receive 15% off regular-priced items. There will also be more than 50,000 toys and baby products on sale sitewide.  

Amazon.com has unveiled another new feature for its second iteration of Prime Day, and customer voices will be heard.   The e-tail giant is offering exclusive Prime Day deals for Amazon Prime members who use its Alexa voice-activated artificial intelligence platform through July 12. These offers will be good for eligible shoppers who order products using their voice on Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, or Amazon Tap devices.  

Customers at all of Walmart’s 4,600-plus U.S. stores can now use the Walmart Pay digital payment service.   This is an impressive feat, especially considering Walmart Pay was only announced in December 2015 and didn’t start undergoing official rollout until May 2016. While everyone agrees Walmart Pay reaching full implementation is a big deal, there is less agreement on how this will affect the digital payment landscape.  

As the largest, most diverse generation ever, it’s impossible to predict the full impact millennials will have on the retail landscape.   Unlike their older counterparts, millennials are digital natives with preferences and behaviors continuing to shake up the retail world. This poses a quandary for retailers. In n a highly competitive market, how can they engage millennials without alienating or “creeping out” older consumers?  

Customers at all of Walmart’s 4,600-plus U.S. stores can now use the Walmart Pay digital payment service.  

A text-based “store” may sound like a flight of fancy, but Kaboom Chat is graphically bringing it to life.   The Dallas-based specialty comic book retailer is leveraging the Samus Chat text-based commerce app to offer a mobile store and informational platform. Kaboom Chat asks customers some discovery questions when they first register, which then enables the retailer to auto-populate the SMS-based store when they visit via mobile phone.  

As consumers continue shifting to mobile-only shopping experiences this summer, retailers have a greater need than ever for an e-commerce platform that delivers responsive, consistent experiences across any given device or channel.

The Walmart Pay mobile digital payment service only began formal rollout in May 2016, but has already reached an impressive goal.   Initially announced in December 2015, Walmart Pay is now available of all of Walmart’s more than 4,600 U.S. stores. Available through the Walmart app for iOS and Android devices, Walmart Pay works at all checkout lanes, and with any credit, debit, pre-paid or Walmart gift card.