News

Walmart offers Amazon alternative in the cloud
After two years of development, Walmart’s OneOps cloud management and application lifecycle platform is being made available to the open source community in a move that highlights a sharp distinction with Amazon Web Services.
Survey: Consumers identify major purchase inhibitor
A lot of attention has been paid to purchase drivers, but what about factors that prevent consumers from buying your products?

A new study of 900 U.S. consumers conducted in November 2015 by international law firm Morrison & Foerster indicates that concerns about privacy are reducing the number of purchases customers make.

At least once in the last 12 months, more than one-third (35%) of respondents indicated that they had decided not to purchases products or services from a company because of privacy concerns.

Tiffany smells growth with Coty fragrance deal

Tiffany & Co. has come up with a new way to showcase its brand and it has nothing to do with jewelry.

The retailer announced it has entered into an agreement with Coty for the development, production and distribution of a new line of Tiffany fragrances for both women and men, to be sold at Tiffany & Co. stores as well as at other select luxury retailers.
Tech Guest Viewpoint: The Modern Retailer’s Secret Weapon

Retailers are continually on a quest to find innovative technologies to help deepen customer engagement with their brand.

Yet, perhaps the most critical part of the buying journey happens when a consumer puts down her device and looks for a human being she can talk with about solving her problem – something that even the most engaging technology can’t provide by itself.
Walmart takes Amazon battle to the cloud

Walmart is launching a new open source cloud platform that seems aimed at hurting Amazon Web Services (AWS) as much as helping retailers.

The cloud management and application lifecycle management platform, known as OneOps, has been under development at the @WalmartLabs innovation center for two years. Walmart has used OneOps internally to support efforts such as improving its website and deploying online grocery features.
The new queens of candy revealed

Photo: Julie Bierman, left, with the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, and Jennifer Dilts, right, with Dollar General will be honored at the upcoming NCA annual meeting.
Johnny Rockets names casual dining vet as CFO

Johnny Rockets, the franchisor and operator of Johnny Rockets restaurants, has named Susanne Stover as its CFO and member of its executive team. Stover will be reporting directly to CEO Charles Bruce, and will lead and implement strategies to drive growth and a financial infrastructure.

Stover is no stranger to the casual dining segment. She has held leadership positions as the CFO for the Rosa Mexicano restaurant chain and controller at the casual dining restaurant chain California Pizza Kitchen.
SPECS 2016: The ‘Store Transformed’ comes to Dallas

For more than 50 years, retail store planning, construction and facilities executives have gathered for the annual SPECS conference to assess key industry challenges and invent the future. That will be the case again this year, as SPECS focuses on the transformation and evolution of physical stores in a digital age.
Warm weather costly for Tractor Supply; growth plans intact

The nation’s largest rural lifestyle retailer had previously warned that warm weather caused weaker-than-expected fourth quarter sales and it quantified the impact on profitability with the release of full financial results on Jan. 27.
Study: Bad data hindering retailers

How good is your data?

Seventy-five percent of retailers believe inaccurate data is undermining their ability to provide an excellent customer experience, according to a study by Experian Data Quality.