Data & Analytics

Consumers are willing to use their mobile devices for shopping, but retailers still need to carefully design their mobile apps and experiences.

There is no shortage of emerging technologies with the potential to transform how retailers operate, but some are closer to realizing that potential than others.

Virtual and augmented reality and Internet of Things (IoT) are most likely to disrupt retail, at least in the short term. That’s according to the first quarter 2016 Retail Innovation Report from the Center for Advancing Retail & Technology (CART),

Nordstrom announced it will phase out 350 to 400 jobs, primarily in its corporate center and regional support teams, through the end of the second quarter.

The retailer described the reductions as changes in its operating model in order to “continually evolve with the expectations of its customers, ensure it is best positioned to respond to the current business environment, and meet long-term growth plans.”

The changes are estimated to generate savings of approximately $60 million in fiscal 2016.

After reporting a 13.2% first quarter same store sales increase, The Tile Shop boosted its full year profit forecast and said it would open between 9 and 12 stores this year.

With 116 stores in 31 states, The Tile Shop has benefitted from the same home improvement tailwinds as Home Depot and Lowe¹s, except its 21,000 square foot showroom style stores are focused exclusively on flooring.

A leading payment card issuer and the world’s largest discount retailer are both launching efforts to reduce how long customers have to wait to check out with EMV-compliant payment cards.

Visa Inc. is rolling out a technology enhancement designed to optimize EMV chip card processing and speed up checkout times. The new solution, called Quick Chip for EMV, streamlines the processing of chip card transactions to enable customers to dip and remove their EMV chip card from the terminal, typically in two seconds or less, without waiting for the transaction to be finalized.

BOISE, Idaho — Albertsons plans to provide free hearing tests to customers in 24 stores using a unique testing kiosk developed by Hearing Wellness Network.

The diagnostic test expands Albertsons Companies' health-and-wellness services to customers by offering a quick-and-easy method to diagnose possible problems and promote hearing awareness. Kiosks are now available as part of a pilot program at participating Albertsons, ACME, Jewel-Osco, Safeway, Shaw's, Star Market and Tom Thumb stores.

Eighty-eight percent of consumers plan to celebrate Mother’s Day 2016 and clothing is this year’s big winner.

That’s according to the annual Brand Keys Mother’s Day survey, which found that consumers intend to spend on average $205.00 this year, up 6% over 2015.

Men, following a long-standing tradition, intend to spend more than women, reporting an anticipated average spend of $228. Women reported an anticipated spend of $182.

eBay Enterprise has completed its merger with Innotrac Corp., creating a new, private company called Radial that provides technology and related services for online retailers, including payments, fulfillment, logistics and customer service.

Sterling Partners, the Innovac parent company which purchased eBay Enterprise in November 2015, had previously announced the two companies would be combined.

Footwear retailer DSW is one of the first retailers to deploy technology from the new provider, using it to support all facets of its omnichannel commerce effort.