News

Walmart expands fleet of ‘Pickup Towers’
More Walmart stores are adding those massive vending machines that cater to online order in-store pickup. The retailing giant will expand its automated online order pickup kiosks to 80 more locations across the country over the next several months, according to Business Insider. The pickup vending machine, which was introduced in a single store in Bentonville, Arkansas last year, is currently available in 20 stores,
Department store giant’s annual anniversary sale goes digital
Nordstrom is putting a modern spin on a 50-year-old tradition. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale — an event that launched in the 1960s — is stepping up its digital game this year. To drive customer engagement throughout the two-week event which kicks off on July 21, the department store giant teamed up with Snapchat to create a custom lens that features accessories that will be highlighted during the Anniversary Sale.

Discounter pulling plug on loyalty program

Target is discontinuing its mobile Cartwheel Perks rewards program, but new app-based improvements are underway. The discounter alerted shoppers participating across its five test markets via email that its “perks pilot is winding down.” Shoppers have until August 27, to collect points toward perks rewards, and all rewards must be redeemed by October 27, according to Target.
Study: Email will be the shining star this holiday season

For all the buzz about interactive digital marketing options, the track record of email keep it at the top of marketers’ holiday wish lists. This was according to the “2017 Christmas in July Survey,” a study from j2 Global. The study tapped 564 members of its customer base and 100 retailers.
Wireless retailer details new store openings

Sprint is expanding its growing store network in the Pacific Northwest. The company plans to open 12 new retail locations throughout Washington by the end of 2017. Currently, Sprint operates more than 107 stores throughout the state. In Oregon, Sprint plans to open nine stores in the Portland Metro area by yearend. The carrier current has more than 64 locations throughout the market.
Office supplies giant adds robotics to fulfillment network

Staples is making a bold move to modernize its supply chain. The office supplies giant is adding a robotic material handling solution across its network of fulfillment centers. Designed by Great Star Industrial USA, LLC, the automated robotic storage and retrieval system incorporates two types of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) into a unified system that brings both high and low cubic velocity items to a single pick and pack station.
How to Stay Protected in this New Age of Data Breaches

The rate at which data breaches are hitting and impacting businesses shows no sign of slowing. In fact, according to the Identify Theft Resource Center, the number of breaches so far this year has already surpassed the number of breaches around the same time last year by almost 35%. (Here’s a list of breaches that have already occurred this year.)
Analysis: Amazon-Sears deal ‘smart move’

Greg Portell, lead partner in the retail practice of global strategy and management consulting firm A.T. Kearney:
Report: Embattled bankrupt electronics retailer gets a lifeline

Against all odds, bankrupt RadioShack is still ticking. An affiliate of Kensington Capital Holdings will acquire RadioShack’s intellectual property after it submitted a $15 million bid, Reuters reported. Kensington is already owned $23 million by the retailer, dating back to a loan it gave the company some two years ago.
MarineMax revenue, comp sales sink in Q3

Softness in larger product categories and unseasonal weather in the Northeast dampened MarineMax’s third quarter earnings. For the third quarter ended June 30, MarineMax’s revenues declined to $329.8 million from $345.6 million for the same period last year. This missed Wall Street’s expectations of $383.01 million.