Omnichannel

Shoppers at select West Elm stores will soon have their very own listening rooms — with state-of-the art sound speakers.   The home furnishings retailer announced a partnership with Sonos to sell the company’s sound speakers and components in its U.S. stores and website, and to install “Sonos listening labs” in 16 West Elm stores. The listening rooms will be outfitted with West Elm’s signature modern furnishings and accessories and Sonos home sound system products.   

Despite strong digital gains, Pier 1 is feeling the effect of soft store sales during the summer.   Net sales for the second quarter for fiscal 2017, ended Aug. 27, 2016, decreased 6.7% to $405.8 million, compared to $435.0 million for the same period last year. Comparable store sales for the quarter decreased 4.3%.   Gross profit also fell during the second quarter, hitting $145.0 million, compared to $154.6 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2016.  

Interactive media continues to shake up retailers’ digital marketing strategies.  

Skechers now allows shoppers to manage their shopping experience from the palm of their hand.  

Sears is hitching a ride with Uber — and inviting its loyal shoppers along.   A new program, called Rider Rewards, is designed to award Sears shoppers for using Uber’s ride service. Customers that link their Sears Shop Your Way loyalty plan to their Uber account will earn $2 in loyalty points for every Uber trip they take. Besides points, the loyalty program also tailors deals to members. Drivers can also take advantage of the program, and earn up to $1,000 in certain markets.   

A Chicago startup has landed partnerships with four major online retailers, including Target, to launch a product meant to rival Amazon’s Alexa, according to the Chicago Tribune.

European online shoppers continue to be intolerant of poor service.   As a result, retailers need to step up their game regarding shipping and fulfillment if they want to keep shoppers happy, according to the “JDA/Centiro Customer Pulse Report Europe 2016.” The study surveyed 8,190 adults online across the U.K., Germany, France and Sweden to learn their online shopping requirements.    

Walmart’s next e-commerce power-play is reportedly in the works.   In its latest move to compete against its online nemesis amazon.com, Walmart is reportedly ready to invest up to $1 billion in Flipkart, according to an article in Quartz.