Store Systems

Yummy Market, in the Toronto suburb of Vaughn, offers a European-styled shopping experience. The 50,000-sq.-ft. supermarket is focused on prepared foods and imported specialties, and includes a 3,050-sq.-ft. bakery/patisserie with breads, cakes and pastries baked from scratch.
     

Target’s new “Cartwheel” Facebook shopping app is a great concept – use the world’s most popular social media platform to help generate in-store traffic. But the execution is clunky. It kind of reminds me of the second “Star Wars” trilogy that came out around the turn of the millennium – the back story of Darth Vader was rich with potential, but George Lucas polluted a great dramatic story arc with floppy-eared aliens and lame attempts at political commentary.

Palo Alto, Calif. -- Two-thirds (66%) of smartphone and tablet users have failed to complete an online transaction due to obstacles at checkout, according to a new survey from Jumio and Harris Interactive. Specific obstacles causing smartphone and tablet shoppers to abandon their shopping carts at the last minute include mobile checkout process being too long or difficult and not feeling secure in giving credit card information.

New York -- Checkout remains the number one in-store pain point for 73% of U.S. consumers, according to a survey by Synqera, a global technology startup that uses big data to bring personalized digital experiences to the physical retail store.    

The survey found that more than two-thirds of Americans prefer to shop in traditional, brick and mortar stores than online commerce sites, and that shoppers gravitate towards retail locations that offer customized shopping experiences but that

New York -- Britain’s Marks & Spencer (M&S) has completed the roll out of contactless payment to 644 of its United Kingdom stores, including its railway and airport franchise locations. The roll-out, which followed a successful trial in 25 London stores last summer, cements M&S’ position as the U.K.’s leading contactless retailer, processing over 230,000 contactless transactions every week.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings announced that Jeff Balagna will join the company as executive VP and CIO. In his new role, Balagna who most recently served as CIO at Eli Lilly, will be responsible for all technology and infrastructure initiatives for the company in its support centers and in-store.
   

Dayton, Ohio -- Golfsmith International, is opening a store Beavercreek, Ohio, with an grand opening celebration on May 10-May 12.

The new 20,845-sq.-ft. store features a dominant selection of the best brands in golf and the ultimate 'try before you buy' interactive environment. The store has three high-tech golf simulators and an expansive indoor putting green that enable customers to experience the latest equipment.

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