Sales & Marketing

Kmart is adding new features to its app aimed at holiday shoppers, including real-time, opt-in push notifications of exclusive online Bluelight Specials.

The 45-acre Assembly Row in Boston breaks almost all the rules for the traditional model for outlet centers. Just three miles from downtown Boston, Assembly Row is an urban-style mixed-use center with a wide range of outlet retail options alongside entertainment components like LEGOLAND Discovery Center, AMC Theatres and over a dozen restaurants from Legal Sea Foods to Vancouver, B.C.-based Earls Kitchen + Bar.

Retail cloud technology deployments have been getting a lot of attention lately. However, the most publicized retail uses of cloud technology tend to be flashy, front-end implementations. For example, cloud platforms are frequently deployed to support the seamless customer experience that underpins omnichannel retail strategies. But the cloud is not just suited to running customer-facing systems. Cloud technology can also serve as an ideal platform for back-end systems and functions, such as workforce management.

For Toys “R” Us chairman and CEO David Brandon, it’s all about having a successful holiday in 2015 — a short-term goal that he believes will pave the way to leveraging longterm opportunities.

The evolution of physical stores took center stage at Chain Store Age's X/SPECS, held at the Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch, in Scottsdale, Arizona. Formerly called Executive SPECS, the event was rebranded this year to reflect how technology is transforming the customer experience and the in-store environment.

The recent KronosWorks 2015 conference was held in Las Vegas, a city built on taking chances. However, increasing automation of workforce management tasks is helping retailers remove the risk from activities such as scheduling, staffing and hiring.

Here are three hot automation trends highlighted at KronosWorks that are helping retailers win the workforce management game.

RANDOM NOTES: Microsoft made its Manhattan debut with a 22,369-sq.-ft. flagship on Fifth Avenue — its largest location yet. Designed in collaboration with Gensler, the store has a striking, all-glass facade that provides a full view of the contemporary, multi-level interior. High-definition video walls and digital signage are featured throughout the space, streaming video, images and information. A two-story video wall is located behind an “answer desk,” where shoppers can receive assistance and training. ...

When it comes to increasing brand awareness on social media for the holidays, a few chains stand out.