Data & Analytics

Time for a facelift
Savvy retailers using technology to update look, feel of physical stores

What’s going to keep people coming back to physical store locations, as comfort levels with e-commerce rise every year? Savvy retailers are fighting technology with technology, refreshing the look and feel of their stores by integrating more gadgets, and using data in a more integrated way to inform strategy.

Technology is helping stores provide shoppers with a personalized experience.
Lighting disruption
Four metatrends are reshaping the industry

A costly problem

Focus on concrete moisture and mitigation

Damage to flooring from concrete slab moisture costs U.S. companies upwards of $1 billion each year. When we interviewed flooring industry experts, more than 70% of them reported that they experience moisture issues “often,” with 100% of those surveyed in unanimous agreement that they had experienced some moisture issues.

Moisture issues show up as distorted flooring (such as curling and buckling), adhesive coming through the joints and alkalinity.
Focus on demand response

Technology evolves to let smaller stores maximize energy savings
The incredible expanding POS

Dhiraj Jain, business development head of retail products and IP for global IT services, consulting and business solutions organization Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), recently took some time to explain exactly how the POS is evolving into a full-fledged omnichannel commerce platform.

How has the role of the point of sale (POS) evolved over the years?

A traditional POS is no longer sufficient to fulfill demands of the modern retailer.
Supply and demand

Lowe’s, Home Hardware align supply chain with consumer demand
Mobile trends

Digital payment gains slow, steady traction
Maximum engagement

Kohl’s pursues ‘Greatness Agenda’ with enterprise omnichannel initiatives

If you’re going to create an agenda, it may as well be an ambitious one. And the “Greatness Agenda” being pursued by Kohl’s Corp. is certainly that.

“Our strategy is to be the most engaging retailer in the U.S.,” Janet Schalk, executive VP and CIO of Kohl’s, explained during an interview with Chain Store Age.
Rebecca Minkoff gets ‘connected’

Stores mix fashion with the best of digital and physical retail

Rebecca Minkoff has tapped into a sweet spot when it comes to integrating the best of online and offline retail.

The designer’s first two U.S. flagships, in downtown Manhattan and the Pacific Heights section of San Francisco, are showcases for how to use technology to create a highly personalized and engaging shopping experience in a physical space.
Another slam dunk for Foot Locker

Foot Locker Inc. is riding the wave of shoppers’ growing desire for athletic footwear -- especially trendy basketball shoes -- into all-time record sales.
Staples shows signs of life

Putting aside all the challenges at Staples – weak demand, activist investor pressure to change its board and an uphill battle to acquire its largest competitor – one aspect of the company’s business is encouraging.

Although the company’s results for the fourth quarter were not good on either an as reported or adjusted basis, the commercial division achieve respectable sales growth and in the fourth quarter was the most profitable of Staples three business segments.
Sephora makes big omnichannel push

Sephora is focusing on developing new strategies and technologies for omnichannel retailing with a new hub situated close to Silicon Velley.