News

How Walmart built the fastest growing retail app
Walmart has figured out how to tap into its shoppers’ offline habits to drive more engagement online, according to a new report from Quartz.

Walmart has managed to do something very few retailers have accomplished: Convince millions of people its mobile app is useful enough to snag a prime spot on their phones’ home screen.

Read more about Walmart's strategy by clicking here.
Target workers OK first union in company’s history
A group of pharmacy workers within Target Corp's store in Brooklyn, N.Y., have won a vote to form a micro-union, making it the first unionized store at the retailer since its inception in 1902, according to Reuters.

A group of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians won an initial ballot, 7-2, to form the union, according to a filing on the National Labor Relations Board website and union officials, the report said.

Target faces class-action over breach

It’s official – Target Corp. will face a class action lawsuit related to its November 2013 data breach.
Champs makes sneaker releases less sneaky

Champs Sports is joining the rapidly expanding ranks of retailers with a consumer-facing mobile app. The Champs Sports app allows customers to find upcoming sneaker launches, launch dates, and locations in which the hottest sneakers can be purchased, as well as browse and buy items from the online Champs store.

A complete release calendar allows customers to keep up with future shoe launches and be the first to know about hot, new releases. Users can also select a specific sneaker release and seamlessly add it to their iCalendar or Google Calendar.
NRF: Customers not buying EMV technology

While the financial industry is supporting the use of chip-and-signature cards to meet the upcoming Oct. 1 EMV mandate, consumers are less convinced.
Holiday shoppers go crazy for free shipping

Online shoppers will do anything to quality for free shipping-even spend more money.

Sixty percent of holiday shoppers say they have increased their online spending in the past to qualify for free shipping, according to the 2015 Holiday Shopping Survey from Pitney Bowes.
Here's the 4 ways retailers build customer loyalty

There are four key elements that sustain a customer’s loyalty over the long term (and price is not one of them), according to the newest research from Synchrony Financial.

According to Synchrony Financial’s 2015 Customer Experience and Impact Study, which examines 27 elements of the shopping experience, four experiences stand out as most valued by customers and translate into greater spend and loyalty for retailers.
Men’s Wearhouse brings acquired company’s warehouse up to speed

Retail acquisitions are never easy, and generally involve significant systems and process overhauls.

The June 2014 purchase of Jos. A. Bank by The Men’s Wearhouse is no exception, as evidenced by its recent upgrade of Jos. A. Bank’s warehouse management.
UPS braces for e-commerce surge

It is the season before the season when retailer revelations about plans to hire temporary workers offer insight into holiday expectations. One of the best indicators of what to expect this Christmas comes courtesy of UPS.

UPS said it plans to hire between 90,000 and 95,000 seasonal employees (about the same as last year) to support the anticipated increase in package volume that will begin in November and continue through January 2016.
Survey: Lower gas prices not pumping up consumer optimism

Lower gas prices are not significantly altering consumer behavior, according to the latest Consumer Fuels Survey results released by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS).

Although drivers report that the national median gas price fell 25 cents per gallon in the past month and 60 cents per gallon since July, only 22% of consumers say that they will drive more over the coming month and only 15% say that they will spend more on other non-fuels items in the coming month.