Omnichannel

Redmond, Wash. – As part of its Windows 10 OS announcement earlier this week, Microsoft Corp. revealed it will be releasing a new holographic computer system called HoloLens that may offer retailers some interesting new ways to deliver an enhanced, seamless customer experience. HoloLens features see-through, holographic, high-definition lenses and spatial sound so users can see and hear holograms in the physical world around them.

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 ambitious.

“Our strategy is to be the most engaging retailer in the U.S.,” Janet Schalk, executive VP and CIO og Kohl’s, explained during an exclusive interview with Chain Store Age at the recent NRF 2015 Annual Convention & Expo in New York. “The Greatness Agenda involves initiatives across the spectrum – some front-end and some enabling.”

New York – Mobile apps have a lot of potential uses, but in 2015 retailers will likely focus on consumer engagement. According to the 2015 E-commerce Industry Outlook report from performance marketing technology company Criteo, 42% of retail executives and ad agencies rank consumer engagement as the primary goal of mobile app strategies.

Other Criteo predictions, based on data insights from billions of online transactions, include:

New York -- Sears Holdings has a new leader for its Kmart pharmacy division. The company announced that it has hired Phil Keough as senior VP and president, pharmacy.

Keough most recently served as CEO and president of Millennium Pharmacy Systems, a long-term care pharmacy provider, and led the sale of the company to PharMerica.

There was a buzz at this year’s NRF Big Show surrounding Magic Mirrors, which have moved from the prototype stage to something everyone seems to be working on now.

New York – L’Oreal USA is venturing into e-commerce via a partnership with with StyleSeat, an online platform for beauty and wellness services. Consumers already use StyleSeat to research and book appointments with hair and nail professionals, and it now offers salon-only L’Oreal authentic products for sale, as well.

Each purchase on StyleSeat can be made through the individual stylist pages. Users can also receive personalized email recommendations from stylists about products to use in between trips to the salon.

Louisville, Colo. -- Nordstrom ranked as consumers’ favorite fashion retailer for the third consecutive year, followed by Kohl’s, T.J. Maxx, Macy’s and Dillard’s. That’s according to a study by Market Force Information, a provider of customer intelligence solutions.

Fans of Wawa may be excited to learn about the innovative new programs the convenience retail chain has rolled out.

The new initiatives -- the Wawa Mobile App and the Wawa Rewards program -- are now available for free through the App Store for Apple devices and through Google Play for Android devices.