News

Express offers loyalty on the go
Express is making payment and participation in its loyalty program easier to accomplish from a mobile device. The specialty apparel retailer is launching a new mobile app that includes full integration with its Express Next loyalty program and cardless payment functionality.
Avoid merchandise optimization confusion
Executing merchandise optimization, or at least performing it so the end game is won, can be confusing and convoluted since “optimization” seeps into almost every retail activity. Are we talking assortments, space, price, promotion, categories, merchandise or some combination?

Terms are irrelevant. Results are not. Merchandise optimization must deliver and reverberate success among every store and online channels. It must drive shopper loyalty, and must be executed to maximize margins, beat competitors and draw in your shoppers.

99 Cents Only offers unconventional birthday gift

Discount retailer 99 Cents Only Stores has come up with an odd new promotion to celebrate those who are becoming, “official 99ers.”

The company is known for offering door buster 99 cent specials on limited quantities at store grand openings and its latest promotion is also designed to capitalize on the 99 connection by featuring those turning 99 in direct mail ads.
Sam’s Club supports Young Entrepreneurs Academy

Sam’s Club and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation are investing in an innovative program to help spawn the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Foot Locker takes social media shot

Foot Locker’s newest promotion with NBA superstar James Harden serves as reminder to retail marketers that imagination is their only constraint when it comes to leveraging social media to connect with consumers.
Connecting retailers, suppliers and content

Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing (ECRM) is increasing its value to retailers and suppliers with the introduction of a new service called the ECRM Content Gateway.
Burger King Germany orders back end stability

Burger King Germany deals with orders more complex than customers requesting Whoppers “their way.”

Operating 700 franchised stores, the Munich-based Burger King subsidiary must process 1,800 daily orders from a diverse set of franchisees. Thus the retailer needed a stable, centralized back-end logistics platform.
Lowe’s smartens Iris strategy

Lowe’s Companies Inc. is trying to make its Iris smart home solution more accessible. The home improvement retailer is the newest participant member of the ZigBee Alliance.

Launched in July 2012, Iris by Lowe’s is a smart home solution created to monitor and control virtually everything in the home anytime, anywhere. Lowe’s is the most recent of 450 members currently working to develop and promote ZigBee Internet of Things (IoT) standards.
REI promotes 25-veteran

REI has promoted Rachel Ligtenberg to VP of retail following a 25-year tenure with the company.

In her new role, she adds retail operations to her current responsibilities of leading store design, visual merchandising and the co-op's flagship strategy.

Ligtenberg will continue to enhance REI's retail experience through new store design concepts to showcase its products, services and educational programs.
Study: Grocery shoppers create social recipe

Social media plays an important role in the grocery shopping process. According to a new study from market research firm Packaged Facts, “Retail Food Marketing Trends in the U.S.: Technology, Mobile, and Social Media,” a majority of grocery store shoppers use social media to get recipes (59%).
Kroger app enables virtual Pope visit

Mobile customers of two discount Kroger grocery banners have a unique connection to Pope Francis’ U.S. visit.

DigitalFood, the free mobile app for Kroger's Food 4 Less and Foods Co. shoppers, is providing a free, mobile virtual reality viewing of Pope Francis' American trip and his canonization of Fr. Junipero Serra in Washington, D.C.
Halloween sales soften, but not too scary

Even though Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, a National Retail Federation consumer survey projects spending will decline compared to last year.