Omnichannel

The Momentum 2016 conference held by Manhattan Associates May 15-17 in Orlando, Florida offered attendees plenty of insightful sessions and interesting information about how omnichannel commerce is affecting the supply chain. First, let’s review some data points shared by Brendan Witcher, principal analyst, e-business and channel strategy, Forrester Research:

In a quarter of strong home improvement demand, Mooresville, North Carolina-based Lowe’s reported net earnings of $884 million for the quarter ended April 29, a 31.4% increase over the same quarter lat year. Sales for the quarter increased 7.8% to $15.2 billion. Comp-store sales increased 7.3% overall, and increased 7.5% for the U.S. business.

The Disney Springs collection of retail and entertainment offerings in Lake Buena Vista, FL is home to the newest UGG brand flagship store.

Purchases from mobile devices continue to rise and upping ad spend is driving results for retailers.

According to data from Rakuten Marketing., purchases from smartphones that originated from a display ad on a computer increased by 52% between the third and fourth quarter of 2015. During that time tablet purchases that resulted from a display ad on a computer grew by 125%.

A major omnichannel advancement is coming soon to Petco’s more than 1,400 stores as the retailer works with Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions on a wide ranging initiative to integrate physical and digital operations.

Petco selected Toshiba’s omnichannel solution branded as TCxGravity to create a seamless commerce offering and improve the overall shopper experience, according to the companies.

Virtual reality (VR) has been gaining traction in retail recently, with major retailers turning to the bleeding-edge technology as a customer engagement tool. But how exactly is VR poised to change the ways consumers interact with and buy products from retailers? Here are three key ways. A full view

Despite J.C. Penney's disappointing sales results, the chain still performed better than its peers in the first quarter. What’s more, Penney an array of new initiatives lined up to help it connect better with a new era of shoppers. To read more, click here

American Girl, an early pioneer of experiential retailing, is set to shake things up again, this time with a digital twist. The company, a division of Mattel, will move its Manhattan flagship from Fifth Avenue to Rockefeller Center, where it will open a totally revamped store concept, reported Racked New York. Created by FRCH Design Worldwide and digital agency MJD Interactive, the store will emphasize customization and personalization.