Sales & Marketing

J.McLaughlin is in a growth phase. Armed with a new cloud-based retail platform, the chain can more efficiently execute its plan.    The Brooklyn, New York-based retailer is a specialty apparel chain that operates 115 stores and an e-commerce site. In November 2015, private equity investment firm Brentwood Associates acquired a majority stake in J.McLaughlin, and in July 2016, former Ralph Lauren executive Mary Ellen Coyne came aboard as CEO.   

A social media player is getting in on the robot delivery game.    Through a partnership between Yelp and robot delivery startup Marble, customers in San Francisco’s Mission and Potrero Hill neighborhoods will soon receive their Yelp Eat 24 deliveries via rovers, according to ReCode.   When a customer places an order, they may receive a notification with the chance to opt-in for a robot delivery.   

Meijer is putting its home delivery expansion plan into motion.   Meijer is preparing to launch its home delivery service throughout Ohio. The service will launch in Cincinnati and Dayton on April 27; Columbus on May 4; and Toledo later this summer.   

Some of the biggest names in retailing and foodservice used experiences to encourage a high percentage buyers to visit at least once last year.   Specifically, Walmart, McDonald’s and Target had more than five out of six U.S. consumers shopping with them in 2016, according to “The Checkout Penetration Index,” from The NPD Group’s Checkout Tracking.   

Gymboree Corp.’s debt and mounting losses may have finally caught up with it.   The embattled retailer is preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, Bloomberg reported, as it faces a June 1 interest payment on its debt.   Gymboree has more than $1 billion in debt resulting from its Bain Capital buyout in 2010. It warned in March that it was running short on cash.   

Staples has been named a 2017 Energy Star Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award winner for continued leadership in protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency achievements. It is the eighth year in a row the company has been so honored.   

Amazon’s third-party sellers are hackers’ latest victims.   In recent weeks, attackers targeted the growing population of third-party sellers on Amazon.com, using stolen credentials from dormant accounts to sell nonexistent merchandise at bargain prices, and then collect the cash, according to Fox Business.   

Ulta Beauty chain is adding a new “consultant” to its in-store team.   Through its partnership with hair color brand Madison Reed, Ulta is deploying a color-recognition chatbot (called Madi) that gives consultations similar to those customers receive from a professional colorist in a hair salon.     Described by Madison Reed as the industry’s first-ever color-recognition chatbot, Madi combines artificial intelligence and selfies to engage in-store shoppers.