Omnichannel

Many fashion brands today have ambitious goals to become the next industry disruptor but too few focus on the steps to achieve it. Indeed, most retailers recognize they can’t access the information they need to give their customers the experiences they desire today. Nor do they have a clear view into their inventory or order management system to deliver a complete customer journey.

Despite overall declines in several key metrics, there were some good signs for brick-and-mortar retailers during November.

The big news for retailers this holiday season has been the strong surge in online shopping. It’s not that high online volumes weren’t expected; estimates placed online purchases to be as high as 20% of total holiday sales this year.

It seems we’ve hit a tipping point, however, where online promotions are of equal or greater importance to Black Friday retail success than in-store promotions, and where Cyber Monday has morphed into Cyber Week.

Brookshire Grocery Co. is undertaking an ambitious omnichannel transformation plan, and focusing it on the wants and needs of the consumer.

“We know everything there is to know about our customers,” said John D’Anna, senior VP and CIO of Tyler, Texas-based Brookshire, in an interview with Chain Store Age. The regional chain operates 152 stores under the Brookshire’s, Super 1 Foods and Fresh by Brookshire’s banners.

Following its launch of delivery to the Empire State Building in October, Starbucks is offering one-hour delivery in a new, larger location.

Starbucks is partnering with on-demand delivery service Postmates for a pilot program where customers in Seattle can have food or beverages delivered to them within designated areas. The offering is an extension of the Starbucks mobile order and pay feature on its app.

Retailers and academics are coming together to help drive continuing innovation in digital retailing.

“Our main mission is the advancement of digital retail through collaboration among academic and retail partners,” said Richard Last, senior director of the Global Digital Retail Research Center at the University of North Texas, during an interview with Chain Store Age.

Ulta Beauty's formula of one-stop shopping for prestige, mass and salon beauty products continued to produce impressive sales and earnings growth in the third quarter.

Ulta' s net income increased 20.2% in the quarter, to a better-than-expected $71.1 million, from $59.1 million in the year-ago period. Total sales rose 22% to $910.7 million, also more than expected. Online sales surged 56.3% to $46.2 million. Same-store sales were up 12.8%, driven by a 10.6% increase in transactions and 2.2% growth in the average ticket.

American Express Serve announced this week that it and Rite Aid and Dollar General had joined forces to allow American Express Serve account holders to add money to their cards at the retailers’ locations around the country.