Omnichannel

This special report by WD Partners examines one of the most crucial questions confronting the retail industry:  the role of the physical store in a digital age. It provides a call to action for a new retail experience, and offers insights and guidance on how retailers can position themselves for success in this new age.

Click here to download the report.
 

The introduction of Amazon Prime Day on July 15 created a new mid-summer e-commerce event that had a profound impact on back-to-school shopping.

Teaneck, N.J. – Online shopping is here to stay and increasingly occurring across a variety of channels.

According to the sixth annual Shopping Experience Study of more than 5,000 consumers by Cognizant, 64% of respondents said they buy online at least once a month, and 13% make weekly purchases.

Mountain View, Calif. – Apple Pay has a new rival, and it’s a formidable one.  
   
In its second take on mobile payments, Google is officially releasing its Android Pay digital payment solution to users of Android devices in the U.S.
     

Markdowns and the costs of expansion hurt Lululemon profits in the second quarter, but the athleisure retailer did post an impressive jump in same store sales.

Houston – Rising expenses resulted in falling profits at Francesca’s Holdings Corp., which plans to slow its store expansion going forward.

Francesca’s net income fell 10% to $9.3 million in the second quarter, from $10.3 million the prior year period.

Rising boutique and payroll expenses related to new store openings were the primary factor in decreasing Francesca’s profits. However, new store openings also helped drive a 9% increase in net sales, to $106.03 million from $97.02 million.

Shoppers who are out of pet food won't have to go very far for a refill, if PetSmart's new partnership with Google has any say about it.

The retailer announced it has teamed with Google Express to provide overnight service in Chicagoland and a five-state Midwest region (120-mile radius from Chicago) in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio serving 25 million people.

New York -- Fast-fashion giant H&M is expanding its upscale store brand, Cos, in the United States.

Cos, known for its minimalist-styled fashions, will open its first store in Boston, on Newbury Street on Sept. 25. The new space, the brand’s third location in the United States, will offer womenswear and menswear collections with 2,960 sq. ft. of sales area, spread across two floors.