News

New York -- Verve Mobile, a provider of in-store mobile advertising technology, and RetailNext, an in-store analytics solutions vendor, are launching a partnership to bring the combined power of location-based advertising and in-store analytics to brick-and-mortar retail customers. Now with the combined capabilities of Verve and RetailNext, retailers using the technologies can leverage a full range of tools that enhance their ability to see how location-targeted mobile advertising is correlated to driving foot traffic and sales.

The recent introduction of Retail Site Intelligence (RSI), a store technology platform based on the ZigBee wireless standard and collaboratively released by Kroger, EInfochips and Wincor-Nixdor, reinforces the coming explosion of sensing technologies in retail.

Coupons.com is rolling out a service that lets consumers use the Coupons.com website or Coupons.com mobile apps for iOS and Android to add digital coupons to their credit or debit cards from Visa, MasterCard or American Express for automatic redemption at checkout.

Offers are available for restaurants and specialty retailers such as Gap, Old Navy, The Body Shop, Tilly's and Travelocity. The service incorporates technology from the company's recent acquisition of Yub that links offers to payment cards.

Hormel Foods Corporation recently awarded 90 suppliers with a 2013 Spirit of Excellence Award for their roles in the company’s continuous improvement process throughout the last year. These suppliers are from a variety of areas, including contractors, pork procurement, provisions, ingredients, packaging and transportation.

Rite Aid has appointed David Abelman a SVP of brand development and innovation. He will report to Ken Martindale, Rite Aid’s president and chief operating officer.

Abelman will be responsible for overseeing the continued development of Rite Aid brand products as well as identifying and implementing new innovations to enhance and grow Rite Aid’s business.

A new ad campaign from Kohl’s featuring several feel-good family spots positions the retailer as a destination where shoppers can find their “Yes.”

Wilson plans to introduce a sensor equipped basketball that can discern between made and missed shots and then feed information to a smartphone or tablet.

Due for release later this year, the new product is the result of a partnership with SportIQ, a Finland-based company focused on artificial intelligence, and Wilson’s recently established digital division.

AmazonFresh recently launched a new tool called the Amazon Dash that allows users to scan items or speak the items aloud as part of a new way to shop for groceries without having to go into the store or shop online. 

"Every member of the family can use Dash to easily add items to your AmazonFresh shopping list," AmazonFresh announced. "Keep it on your kitchen counter or hang it on the refrigerator. Did your kids just eat the last of the cereal? Conveniently refill and restock your home's everyday essentials, and have fun doing it."

Maybelline New York has chosen model Marloes Horst to be the new face of the brand. Horst joins a roster of spokeswomen, including Christy Turlington and Emily DiDonato.

"Marloes embodies the Maybelline New York woman with her passion for makeup and her New York City energy and ambition," says Jerome Bruhat, global brand president of Maybelline New York.

SPAR Group, a leading supplier of retail merchandising and other marketing services throughout the United States and internationally, has appointed Panos Mastrogiannis as chief information officer and executive officer.

The company also provided shareholders with an update on its technological advances.