News

TechBytes: Not Your Father’s POS
The POS has never been the most flashy or talked-about solution in the retail IT environment. From manual cash registers up to client/server-based terminals, the basic idea of the POS as a fixed box that takes payment in and spits receipts out stayed pretty much the same.
Rite Aid disappoints
Rite Aid Corp. reported disappointing first-quarter earnings and sales results in its first quarter amid pressure on pharmacy reimbursement rates. The chain reported a loss of $4.6 million for the quarter ended May 28, after reporting a profit in the same period a year earlier. Excluding certain items, adjusted net income was $14.5 million, or 1 cent per diluted share, compared with 2 cents a year earlier. The results fell short of Wall Street expectations.

Wal-Mart Stores sets bullish sales target

Wal-Mart Stores sent out a message to naysayers who say the chain’s best days are behind it. Speaking at the Consumer Goods Forum conference in Cape Town, South Africa, Wal-Mart CEO Doug McMillion said the retailer expects to add $45 billion to $60 billion of new sales during the next three years.
New Baltimore industrial hub announces retail development

Tradepoint Atlantic, a 3,100-acre industrial hub now taking shape in Baltimore Harbor, this week unveiled plans for a 130-acre, mixed-use retail park on the former site of the nation’s largest steelmaking facility. FedEx has signed a lease for a 300,000 sq.-ft. distribution facility and Harley-Davidson will move its training facility to the site, which offers 3,000 ft. of frontage on I-695 and exposure to 43,000 households in the surrounding area.
Retail loyalty is big business

Customers who belong to a retailer’s loyalty program spend more — significantly more — than those who do not. That’s according to a new study by Accenture Interactive, which found that members of retailers’ loyalty programs generate between 12% and 18% more revenue for retailers than those who do not belong. The report was based on a survey of U.S. retailers across specialty, big-box, department, drug and convenience stores.
The critical factor for consumers when shopping online is…

When it comes to providing a satisfactory customer experience, online retailers have to deliver on their promises. Sixty-six percent of e-commerce shoppers consider delivery a decisive factor when shopping online, according to a new study by enterprise delivery experience solution provider Convey. In addition, 70% of consumers report they are unlikely to return after a poor delivery experience.
ADA Litigation: Website Accessibility Claims on the Rise

Photo: Colin Calvert (Left) and Caroline Pham (Right)
Target rolls forward with Cartwheel

The Cartwheel couponing app from Target, which launched in 2013, is getting its biggest makeover yet. Having been used by more than 25 million customers to create a total savings of more than $500 million, Cartwheel will now offer a more personalized experience, among other upgrades.
Walmart cutting 1,500 back-office jobs — but associates not being laid off

Walmart is trimming administrative positions in some 500 stores in the West. According to multiple media reports, the discount giant will cut three backroom accounting and invoicing positions at each store, for a total of 1,500 jobs. Affected employees will not be laid off, but instead offered front-of-store roles such as pharmacy technician or assisting pickups of online orders. Invoicing tasks will be shifted to corporate headquarters in Arkansas, while accounting functions will be automated.
Father’s Day spending: Eight need-to-know items

Father’s Day is Sunday, June 18, and retailers and dads alike will have reason to smile, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). American adults who plan to consume this holiday will do so in a big way, spending an average of $169.60 at predominantly at physical retailers, according to ICSC’s most recent consumer survey. Here are eight specific findings: