Store Systems

The Container Store has embarked on an initiative to optimize Web performance, the online shopper experience, and strengthen its Web security.   Looking to significantly increase revenue from desktop, tablet, and mobile channels following a responsive web design launch, the company tapped Yottaa, selecting its online platform following a rigorous evaluation of multiple Web acceleration offerings, including in-depth performance benchmark testing.   

Electronic shelf labels are poised to gain momentum.   That’s according to a new report by ABI Research, which said that several big-box retail deployments of the technology will trigger a domino effect in market growth over the next two years. The company predicted that the electronic shelf label (ESL) market will grow tenfold by 2022, hitting more than $4 billion in global revenues.    

Shoppers want their favorite brands to know who they are, feature their preferred merchandise, and overall, offer an “experience” that appeals to them — and only them.    This point was driven home at Oracle Industry Connect, held in Orlando, Florida, March 20-22. During the conference, industry observers defined how retail is undergoing a “transfiguration,” or a shift to providing an elevated customer experience. What’s at the core of this change? In a word: personalization.   

Amazon is keeping all its options open when it comes to exploring new concepts.   The online giant is exploring an array of brick-and-mortar ideas, from electronics stores to stores that sell furniture and appliance, that would use technology in ways and have a dramatic impact on how other stores operate, reported The New York Times.   

Meijer continues to expand its presence in the Indianapolis area.   On May 2, the retailer will open two supercenter in McCordsville, Ind., and one in Franklin, Ind.   The Indianapolis-area supercenters are two of seven new stores Meijer is opening in Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin this year.  

Even Amazon has technical difficulties.    The online giant is delaying the public opening of its cashier-less convenience store, Amazon Go, due to technical complications, according to MarketWatch.   

Highly promotional activity and increased multichannel initiatives not only helped Shoe Carnival hit its expectations, but exceed $1 billion in net sales for the year.   For the quarter ended January 28, 2017, the retailer’s net sales were $234.2 million, a 0.2% increase, compared to net sales of $233.7 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015. While it was in line with its goals, this was just shy of Wall Street’s prediction for sales of $235 million.  

Hy-Vee shoppers will soon be able to buy new clothes while they grocery shop.    Two Hy-Vee locations in Nebraska will soon feature F&F clothing boutiques through the Iowa-based retailer’s franchise agreement with the British clothing line owned by supermarket company Tesco, reported The Anchorage Press.