News Briefs

Verizon is personalizing and streamlining its app-based shopping and customer service experience with leading-edge artificial intelligence technology.

The wireless device and services retailer is launching an upgraded version of its myVerizon app for consumers and associates equipped with a number of new features supported by generative AI. 

Consumer features

On the consumer side, these features include a new streamlined user interface designed to deliver results within seconds, offering 24/7 availability. In addition, customers can leverage the myVerizon app to order products online and use Verizon express lockers to pick them up on the same day, as well as to order same-day delivery and expert in-home setup.

Customer service features

On the customer service side, a generative AI-based personal research assistant provides customer service representatives with analysis of thousands of resources to deliver personalized information in an amount of time Verizon says is subtracting 30 seconds from average call times as it continues learning and developing.

For store associates and customer service representatives, personal shopper and problem solver features help them anticipate customer needs and provide faster, more accurate service. With these mobile tools working in the background, Verizon says it has reduced transaction times in its retail stores and on the phone by roughly three minutes.

[READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE Q&A: Mobile innovation transforms customer experience]

"Customers want personalized experiences, and we’ve been able to create those for them by putting our generative AI tools to work," said Sowmynarayan Sampath, CEO of Verizon’s consumer unit. "These experiences, combined with savings they can’t get anywhere else, should make holiday shopping stress-free. This way, our customers can focus on other things, like spending time with family and loved ones." 

The premium activewear brand co-founded by actor Mark Wahlberg and businessman Harry Arnett has opened  its second store and official company headquarters.  

Municipal has opened a 16,000-sq.-ft. flagship in Oceanside, Calif., which is in San Diego County. The expansive space features men’s and women’s apparel and footwear, along with an onsite café, studio and barber shop. There is also dedicated space for the company’s corporate employees.

Municipal, which launched online in 2020, opened its first permanent retail location in July, on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood, Calif. 

Looking ahead, the Oceanside store will serve as the blueprint for what Municipal calls its flagship retail concept. As for future locations, the company said it is not yet certain about the timing for next year as it will depend on how well the Oceanside locations performs and location availability, but the brand is definitely planning on expanding, a spokesperson said. 

Municipal describes itself as a premium performance and style-driven athletic and casual apparel brand blending comfort and functionality. Garments are designed with comfort in mind and are versatile enough for work, fitness and everything in between. At its core, Municipal is a "lifestyle, focused on the transformative power of self-belief," according to the company.

Shoppers will be out in force during the upcoming holiday weekend.

The overwhelming majority (73%) of U.S. consumers plan to shop “Cyber Weekend” (the five-day period spanning Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday) this year, according to Numerator. Over half (56%) plan to shop Black Black Friday and/or Cyber Monday (52%).

In other findings, 31% plan to shop the Saturday or Sunday after Thanksgiving, and 21% plan to shop on Thanksgiving. And while 63% of shoppers plan to purchase holiday gifts during Cyber Weekend, 26% plan to purchase everyday items (groceries, household goods, etc.). 

Other insights include:

•Forty-eight percent of consumers plan to buy items they have been waiting to buy on sale, and 33% plan to purchase whatever catches their eye.

•Excluding holiday gifts, 36% of shoppers plan to purchase items for themselves, and 28% plan to purchase items for other members of their household.

•During Cyber Weekend 2023, shoppers purchased an average of 13.6 items per household, averaging $17.19 per item. The average shopper spent $234, made five separate trips/orders, and shopped at two or more different stores/websites. Also, 72% shopped in-store and 52% online, with significant overlap between the two.

For more, read Numerator’s “Five Predictions for This Year’s Cyber Five Weekend.”

Walmart Luminate, which provides a unified picture of category performance and consumer trends at scale, is now available in Canada.

Walmart introduced Walmart Luminate in 2021, and earlier this year announced the international expansion of the Walmart Luminate platform, which began with Walmex in Mexico.

Retailer and supplier partners in Canada who have subscribed to Walmart Luminate will have access to the platform’s customizable analytics tools and data feeds to help obtain insights into customer trends and sentiments.

Walmart Luminate is launching in Canada with Shopper Behaviour, which helps participating retailer and supplier partners better understand how shoppers interact with brands and categories. Suppliers get access to detailed reports about customer metrics such as loyalty, switching, benchmarking, basket pairing and substitutions.

Additional capabilities are expected to launch in Canada by the end of 2025. As the U.S. market introduces new features and functions for Walmart Luminate, which will rebrand as Scintilla at the beginning of 2025, the company plans to incorporate them into its Canadian offering as well.

[READ MORE: Walmart expands, renames Luminate data platform]

"As we continue to grow together and support our commitment to be the trusted first stop for Canadian families, I’m so energized by the opportunities that Walmart Luminate will provide our merchants and suppliers here in Canada," Jaed Khan, VP, data office, Walmart Canada, said in a corporate blog post.

According to Walmart Canada, early feedback from its pet team that has been using the tool since summer 2024 is positive, with the group already finding opportunities to leverage the data and enhance its insights.

Based in Mississauga, Ont., Walmart Canada operates more than 400 stores nationwide.

The Giant Company has promoted a long-standing employee to its C-suite.

The Pennsylvania-based grocer has promoted Will Regan to the role of chief financial officer. Effective immediately, he will have responsibility for all finance functions as well as real estate, reporting directly to The Giant Company’s president, John Ruane.

Regan began his career ​in 2005 as an accountant for Ahold Delhaize USA and has since served in a variety of roles across the company. He joined The Giant Company in 2018 as director of commercial finance and was named to his most recent position, director of commercial finance and profitability, in July of 2022.  

In August, the grocer promoted its then-CFO Rebecca Lupfer to the role of senior VP and chief merchant, leading all aspects of merchandising for the company as well as commercial planning and pricing.

“With nearly two decades of experience, Will is a proven leader with a track record of providing actionable financial guidance and expertise,” said Ruane. “With his deep understanding of our business and strong partnerships across the company, I know he’ll continue to be a valuable resource as we work to deliver our strategy, drive results and position The Giant Company for long-term growth.”

[READ MORE: Philadelphia center to be re-anchored with a Giant supermarket]

The Giant Company, through its banners Giant, Martin’s and Giant Heirloom Market, operates 193 stores, online grocery services, pharmacies, and fuel stations in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.

Sweaty Betty is in expansion mode.

The London-based women's activewear brand has opened stores in Chicago's Southport neighborhood and in Washington, D.C.'s Georgetown area. Both feature Sweaty Betty's collection of premium activewear that combine feminine-focused design and style with technical performance.

In 2021, Sweaty Betty was acquired by Wolverine World Wide, whose portfolio also includes Merrell, Stride Rite, Saucony, Wolverine and more. 

"We are thrilled to open these new locations in Chicago and D.C., which mark an exciting opportunity to connect with new communities and deepen our presence in key markets," said Melissa Mullen, global brand president of Sweaty Betty. "We look forward to being part of these vibrant cities, supporting our consumers' active lifestyles, and continuing to grow our global sisterhood."

The company is also expanding its footprint in the United Kingdom with a new store in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, and also in Westfield London, as part of its growing presence across the country. Sweaty Betty now a total of 85 U.K. stores.

In addition to its own stores, the Sweaty Betty brand is sold at Nordstrom stores across the U.S.