News

Report: Google, Amazon want to regulate drone traffic
Mountain View, Calif. – Drone-based delivery may still be far from an everyday reality, but likely players including Google and Amazon are already thinking about traffic control.

According to Bloomberg, Google, Amazon, Verizon and Harris Corp. are among 14 companies that have signed agreements with NASA to help create a drone air traffic control system.
Office Depot focused on teachers for back-to-school
Office Depot Inc. is thinking teachers first with an omnichannel component at the core of its back-to-school promotion.

TonyMoly, New York City

South Korean beauty fave TonyMoly is laying down U.S. roots. With one store in New York City’s Chinatown, limited product distribution in Urban Outfitters and Sephora and a new website, the brand has opened its second Big Apple location.
Simon aims to transform back-to-school shopping

Mall operator Simon knows teen girls are a key part of its consumer base, and it is courting them this summer.
Report: Another player to enter digital payment game

Boston – The increasingly crowded digital payment field will soon have a new player. According to Bloomberg, the retailer-backed Merchant Customer Exchange (MCX) is preparing to launch a trial of its CurrentC digital payment solution in stores.
Jo-Ann Fabrics crafts a new partnership with U.S. artist

Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores is launching a new collection that targets shoppers with a love of family, faith and tradition.

The retailer has announced an exclusive product line of more than 200 new prints and decor items from renowned American artist Susan Winget.
Tech Bytes: Data Security: Two Don’ts and One Do

Data security has been a hot topic in the world of retail IT lately. Based on some recent retail data security-related news items, I have compiled a list of two don’ts and one do when it comes to securing your data.

Don’t outsource whole portions of your e-commerce platform
Food City redefines shopper engagement

A Food City supermarket in Bristol, Va., has given new meaning to that old merchandising adage, “stack it high and let it fly,” by creating the world’s largest pineapple display.
Report: Another digital giant overtakes Wal-Mart

Seattle – Last month Facebook overtook Wal-Mart in valuation, and now another digital giant has reportedly achieved the same feat. According to the Associated Press, after intense after-hours trading, which followed Amazon’s rare report of a second quarter fiscal 2015 profit, Amazon now has market capitalization of about $264 billion.
Report: Major new player may enter grocery vertical

Seattle – Everyone from mass merchandisers to dollar stores has been getting into the grocery business in recent years, and the vertical may soon have a new and very large participant.