News

Payment innovation heats up this summer
A lot of attention has been paid to the impact of mobile wallets in the payment technology arena. However, other technologies are also emerging to make payment, among other shopping activities, easier and more efficient. For example, 1-800-Flowers.com is partnering with Amazon.com to make the digital ordering process (including processing and payment) even easier.
Another retailer enters Prime Day battlefield
Walmart is not the only big-name retailer preparing a July 12 online sales extravaganza. Toys “R” Us is launching an online discount event so simple even a child could take advantage of it. All day Tuesday, July 12, shoppers on the Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us e-commerce sites can receive 15% off regular-priced items. There will also be more than 50,000 toys and baby products on sale sitewide.

Amazon lets consumers speak up for Prime Day

Amazon.com has unveiled another new feature for its second iteration of Prime Day, and customer voices will be heard. The e-tail giant is offering exclusive Prime Day deals for Amazon Prime members who use its Alexa voice-activated artificial intelligence platform through July 12. These offers will be good for eligible shoppers who order products using their voice on Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, or Amazon Tap devices.
Michaels membership has its privileges

Specialty arts and crafts retailer The Michaels Companies Inc. knows that customer loyalty is not its own reward.
Stater Bros. lightens energy load

Stater Bros. Markets is decreasing electricity output this summer. The San Bernadino, California-based regional supermarket chain is voluntarily reducing lighting energy use by 50% in all 168 Stater Bros. locations during the summer months. This reduction will decrease electricity use by 425,000 kWh per month, which is the equivalent of powering 470 homes per month. It also reduces the possibility of rotating outages during the summer.
Extreme value grocery store with unusual model joins the fray

A new player has entered the value grocery segment. LogicLane, a start-up company that provides discount wholesale grocery supply chain services and a wholesale grocery e-commerce marketplace for businesses, has entered the retail arena, opening a supermarket in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Called Mill Street Merchants, the store is designed to extend the extreme value deals previously only available to national businesses on the LogicLane website to local businesses and consumers.
Off-price retailer continues to expand

Nordstrom remains in expansion mode with its Nordstrom Rack division. A 26,000-sq. ft. Nordstrom Rack is scheduled to open in spring 2017, at CityPlace, a 100-acre, master-planned development in Woodbury, Minn. The property is owned and managed by Elion Partners, a Florida-based real estate investment firm.
Ralph Lauren turnaround plan evokes Ford Motor’s comeback

Beset by declining sales, growing competition and changing consumer tastes, Ralph Lauren has launched an ambitious turnaround plan that includes a heavy brand emphasis.
Three Key Shifts in Consumer Attitude & Behavior

As the largest, most diverse generation ever, it’s impossible to predict the full impact millennials will have on the retail landscape. Unlike their older counterparts, millennials are digital natives with preferences and behaviors continuing to shake up the retail world. This poses a quandary for retailers. In n a highly competitive market, how can they engage millennials without alienating or “creeping out” older consumers?
Report: Nordstrom buys stake in supply chain software firm

Nordstrom has taken another step to reduce complexity in its supply chain and improve its shipping of online orders. The retailer has bought a minority stake in DS Co., a software company that links inventory management between retailers and suppliers, the Wall Street Journal reported. The company, based in Utah, offers a cloud-based service, called Dsco, which makes it easier for suppliers to directly ship orders placed through their retail partners.