Data & Analytics

Beliefs that online shopping has replaced brick-and-mortar shopping are exaggerated, especially when it comes cosmetic and grooming purchases, according to a new The Harris Poll.  

The Kroger Co. has tapped a tech veteran as its next chief digital officer.   The supermarket giant announced that 15-year-veteran Kevin Dougherty, 63, group VP and chief digital officer, will retire on Jan. 27, 2017. He will be succeeded by Yael Cosset, 43, chief commercial officer and chief information officer of 84.51.     

Digital disruptors continue to change the pace of retail — and Neiman Marcus is ready.   Like many retailers, the luxury department store chain continues to introduce more mobile technology at store-level, a move that supports both in-store operations and consumer-driven tasks, from browsing through procurement.    “It is a trend that requires our network to be a mission-critical lifeline at every store,” said Scott Emmons, head of the Neiman Marcus Innovation Lab (iLab). 

On Monday, Amazon announced the launch of Amazon Go, a checkout-free convenience store in Seattle. The 1,800-sq.-ft. store is powered by what Amazon calls “just walkout technology,” which combines computer vision, sensor fusion and deep learning technologies. Currently open only to Amazon employees, Amazon Go expected to open to the public in 2017.  

A few years ago, there was considerable buzz in the retail industry about the enormous potential of mobile point of sale (mPOS) and its ability to transform the in-store customer experience. With online competitors driving new consumer expectations and shopping behavior, this was seen as a key strategy in blunting the competition and giving brick and mortar merchants an upper hand.   

The Home Depot Mexico is one step closer to delivering on its promise "to provide the highest level of service, the broadest selection of products and the most competitive prices.”  

High-tech purchases could account for a major portion of consumer holiday spending this year — and they will be placed by high-tech shoppers.   This prediction was made in a report by UPS, “2016 UPS How to Click with High-Tech Online Shoppers.”     

Gordmans Stores named Ramin Mozafari as senior VP of planning and allocation.   Mozafari joins Gordmans from Kohl's Department Stores, where he most recently was senior VP, divisional merchandise manager for accessories. Prior to Kohl's, from 2008 to 2012, he served DSW, where he held various merchandising roles including VP, general merchandise manager.  

Coop Italia, Italy’s largest supermarket chain, is looking to reinvent the customer experience in grocery shopping.    In collaboration with Accenture, the retailer has opened a flagship in Milan that merges the physical and digital to recreate the atmosphere of local open-air markets. Billed as the “supermarket of the future,” the store uses innovative digital solutions that provide product information, improve store navigation and engage customers.      

Michaels came up short in the third quarter, posting earnings and revenue that missed analysts’ forecasts.   The art and craft retailer reported third-quarter adjusted earnings of 40 cents per diluted share, missing analysts' estimates of 43 cents per share.   Net sales increased 5.0% to $1.227 billion, primarily a result of the acquisition of Lamrite West in February 2016 and sales from 19 additional stores.