News

Amazon has lots of ideas about how drones can improve package deliveries, but they also need supportive facilities and operations.    In hopes of getting the ball rolling, the online giant has filed a patent application for “ground-based mobile maintenance facilities for unmanned aerial vehicles.” Simply put, these hubs would be dedicated to accommodating, loading, launching, receiving and maintaining the delivery drones.  

Technology that works like GPS for indoor locations is helping shoppers find their way through Mall of America.   

Based on the momentum of early back to school shoppers, Amazon is on pace to hit a record 80% sales growth for the season.    The online giant's school supplies sales have grown by 35% year-over-year in the first two weeks of the back-to-school shopping season, according to One Click Retail. Early back-to-school shopping only accounted for 9% of sales in 2016.  

Shopping for groceries online has a long way to go before it catches on with the vast majority of U.S. consumers.   Nine percent of U.S. adults report that their household shop online for groceries at least once a month, including 4% who do it at least weekly, according to Gallup's annual Consumption Habits survey. By contrast, almost all Americans say someone in their family shops for groceries in person at least once a month, with 83% going at least once a week.  

Simon is debuting a new type of concierge — one that never calls in sick.   The mall owner launched a chatbot designed to deliver customers at its 208 North American centers useful information as they shop.  Described as the industry’s first enterprise-wide bot, the artificial intelligence-based technology is available through Facebook Messenger, and provides store and restaurant information, hours of operation, special events, daily promotions and a list of available amenities.  

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. has brought its updated store environment to Tysons Corner Center, Tysons, Va.   The location is one of seven new concept stores the retailer will open by yearend. Abercrombie debuted the new look in February, at Polaris Fashion Mall in Columbus, Ohio. It has also opened at Lenox Square, Atlanta, Georgia, and at Somerset North, Troy, Michigan (Somerset North).  

The nation's second largest drugstore chain by store count posted a higher-than-expected quarterly profit amid stronger demand for its pharmacy benefits management business.    CVS’ net income rose 18.8% to $1.1 billion in the second quarter, ended June 30. Net revenues rose 4.5% to $45.7 billion, with a 9.5% increase in revenue in it pharmacy services segment, which includes its pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) business and specialty pharmacy services.  

Ralph Lauren starts its new fiscal year in much the same way as it ended the last one: with sales lines splashed with red ink to indicate the severe declines across most divisions of the company. Some of this would be excusable if the iconic brand were at the start of a journey of reinvention, but this comes after multiple attempts to get the firm back on track - most of which have proved to be fruitless.