Data & Analytics

RILA refutes claims of retailers lagging in EMV compliance
The Retail Industry Leaders Alliance (RILA) is refuting public claims about retailers lagging behind banks and card networks in transitioning to EMV compliance. Randy Vanderhook, executive director of the Smart Card Alliance, said in a San Diego Union Tribune article that although consumers have largely been issued EMV-compliant chip cards, retailers have not been activating terminals or completing chip migration.
Report: Walmart gets the message on in-store assistance
Usually retailers are not pleased when hackers get into their systems, but Walmart Stores Inc. is very happy with three hackers in particular. Walmart will test a new SMS-based customer service tool that won a recent Walmart Labs-sponsored “hackathon.”

Adidas, San Francisco

Adidas is taking its act on the road with a futuristic-looking pop-up that lets shoppers get up close and personal with its high-tech footwear.

The “Boost Experience by Adidas” is an interactive mobile store that is touring the country’s premier running events. It made its debut at the San Francisco Marathon. In all, 14 stops are planned, with a schedule that continues into 2016.
Indian e-commerce giant recruits execs from major retail, tech firms

Flipkart, a leading Indian online marketplace, is naming three new technology executives with experience at some major global retail and IT firms.
Hhgregg alters store experience, adds Samsung sizzle

Redesigned Hhgregg stores in Orlando and Tampa, Florida, offer new growth possibilities for the 226 store appliance, electronics and furniture retailer.

Hhgregg, on the heels of weak first quarter and 2014 results, unveiled new store designs in several Florida markets over the weekend with locations in Orlando and Tampa leading the way.
Regional grocer automates back end to support growth plans

Gelson’s Markets, which operates 18 full-service specialty grocery stores in Southern California, is supporting ambitious growth plans with a back-end technology upgrade. Gelson’s will implement JDA space and category management solutions to increase the efficiency and automation of its planning activities.
GBT Realty closes on $5 million center

Fayetteville, N.C. -- GBT Realty Corporation announced that it has closed on The Shoppes of Fayetteville, a 15-acre site, located in Fayetteville, North Carolina, for $5 million. The 126,500-sq.-ft. center is in the midst of a $25 million redevelopment scheduled to be completed in summer 2016.
Store Labor: A Retailer’s Biggest Asset

In a retail world focused on omnichannel strategies, product and service innovations, IT investments and technology-enabled stores of the future, winning retailers are taking a new look at their store labor models and budgets. Store associates represent one of the biggest contributors to the success or failure of brick-and-mortar stores. In many ways, they are a retailer’s most powerful asset.
Leading pizza chain tests beacons

A leading pizza chain is testing beacon technology – in stores in China.

Yum Brands subsidiary Pizza Hut is using devices from global beacon technology provider Sensoro at all 1,471 locations in mainland China through Sept. 23.
Costco gets down to business with SMB payments

Costco Wholesale Corp. is getting down to business on processing payments from small-to-mid-sized business (SMB) customers.

The wholesale chain is extending an existing relationship with payment processing solutions provider Elavon aimed at improving service and security for SMB members.

The payment processing program for Costco’s SMB members includes POS, mobile and e-commerce solutions, all of which adhere to EMV and PCI compliance requirements. Costco members can obtain program services online and in-store.
Study: Consumers not ready to pay with EMV

In the 1970s, Saturday Night Live had a cast of comedians that were called the “Not Ready for Prime Time Players.” In 2015, U.S. retailers have a cast of customers that could be called the “Not Ready for EMV Payers.”
Macy’s begins huge holiday hiring push

The workforce at Macy’s will swell by 50% in the coming month as the department store retailer looks to elevate service levels during the holiday season.

Macy’s said it plans to hire 85,000 workers, versus 86,000 last year, for temporary positions at its Macy's and Bloomingdale's stores, call centers, distribution centers and online fulfillment centers. The company had roughly 167,000 employees at the end of its fiscal year on Jan. 31, 2015.