News

During a keynote at the recent Oracle OpenWorld conference in San Francisco, Tim Theriault, senior VP/CIO of Walgreens, discussed his company’s ongoing efforts at IT innovation. Walgreens has been involved in a number of notable recent innovative technology implementations, but column looks at the underlying strategy that helps ensure the success of those rollouts.

Here are three takeaways other retailers can glean from Walgreens’ innovation strategy:

Conn’s has begun exploring a range of strategic alternatives, including a potential sale, while maintaining the company’s long term strategy is viable.

Newegg has opened a high-tech warehouse and shipping today in Indianapolis. The leading technology e-retailer estimates that the new warehouse will allow 45 million people in the Midwestern U.S. to get their orders faster.

In addition to Indiana, customers in Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, Wisconsin and West Virginia will see the greatest benefit, with noticeably shorter delivery times.

Party City has promoted Gregg A. Melnick to president of Party City Holdings, effective immediately. Party City Holdings is the parent company of the Party City Retail Group and Amscan Inc., among other entities. Most recently, Melnick was president of the Party City Retail Group.  

Dollar General’s new Fast Way to Save program, which runs from now through Nov. 15, uses the retailer’s new DG Digital Coupon platform powered by Coupons.com to offer its customers more than 100 in additional digital coupon savings.

To bring transparency and simplicity to the changing health insurance market, Walmart is working with DirectHealth.com to launch Healthcare Begins Here, an in-store program designed to educate customers on health insurance options.

DirectHealth.com, an online health insurance comparison site, which is an independent licensed health insurance agency, will provide a resource that brings Walmart customers access to health insurance information and enrollment support.

Kohl’s is taking a different approach to customer engagement with the launch of its Yes2You Rewards loyalty program nationwide. The program aims to foment customer loyalty by building deeper relationships and providing customers with a more personalized, value-driven shopping experience.

Ten Target stores in the San Francisco area are experimenting with a new mobile shopping app called Curbside, which promises to deliver the next generation of commerce.

Curbside launched its mobile app this week to make finding, buying and getting the things shoppers need from their favorite local stores faster and easier than ever before, according to the company. Target is among the retailers whose stores are participating in the Curbside app.

Longtime CPG industry executive and former GMDC president Rick Tilton has been laid to rest after passing away at his Arizona home on September 20.

Walgreens is conducting a developer contest to encourage integration of its Balance Rewards application program interface (API), which allows users of other apps to earn Balance Rewards loyalty program points for making healthy choices. Rewards points can be redeemed for merchandise in-store or online.