News

While Singles’ Day has morphed into the world’s biggest shopping extravaganza, the event’s allure may be losing some luster.  

Creating a true “commerce-meets-content” experience, PetSmart introduced a new website that complements its omnichannel efforts.   Reflecting feedback from shoppers, the new PetSmart site takes a fresh approach to pet supply shopping by featuring new services that streamline how its customers shop and receive desired merchandise. In addition to one-page checkout for example, shoppers can also choose from tailored delivery options, like recurring subscription-based shipping, scheduled delivery and same-day delivery. 

“Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future," as Nils Bohr, the Nobel laureate physicist put it. But as the end of 2016 approaches, it’s useful to look forward and try to anticipate the cybersecurity trends that lie ahead, and to reflect on what’s happened over the past year, to see how accurate previous predictions were.    For 2016, our predicted cybersecurity threats included:  

A longtime San Francisco grocery banner will soon disappear.    Safeway will acquire Andronico’s Community Markets, which operates five Andronico’s stores in the San Francisco Bay Area.     

Grocery retailer Winn-Dixie opened the second ever location of its next-generation store concept, in the Hyde Park section of Tampa, Florida.  

Just in time to streamline the upcoming holiday e-commerce sales rush, Hudson’s Bay Co. is touting a new robotic fulfillment system.   Called the first of its kind in Canada, the new state-of-the-art robotic fulfillment system is housed in the department store chain’s 752,000 sq.-ft. Scarborough distribution center, which manages the chain’s e-commerce operations.    

On the heels of the announcement that Walter Robb would step down as co-CEO of Whole Foods Market, more changes may be in store the grocery chain.   One of Whole Food’s 10 largest shareholders has met with potential activist investors explore making major changes to the retail, including replacing management and exploring a sale of the company, Bloomberg reported.

U.S. shoppers expect to spend more this holiday season, but also to drive a harder bargain, demanding more competitive pricing and an enhanced shopping experience  

Story, the innovative retail store in Manhattan that totally reinvents itself every few months, is ready for the holidays with a one-stop shopping experience that offers something for everyone.    For its new installation, “Home for the Holidays,” the store has reconfigured its space into a series of designated rooms that correspond to different recipients on a shopper’s list: a living room for her, a library for him, a playroom for the kids, and a kitchen with something for everyone.   

Starbucks Corp. is feeling its oats.   The coffee giant topped estimates for its fourth quarter and gave a positive view for its current fiscal year.   Starbucks’ consolidated net revenue grew 16% to $5.8 billion in its fourth quarter, which was better than expected.