News

Apple leads in Christmas week device activations
San Francisco, Calif. - Apple accounted for 51% of the new device activations worldwide during the week leading up to and including Christmas Day (Dec. 19 - 25). According to data from mobile analytics provider Flurry, Christmas Day typically sees the highest number of new device activations and app installs each year, with 2014 following the trend.
RILA adds more D.C. muscle
The Retail Industry Leaders Association announced that Jennifer Safavian has joined the organization as Executive Vice President for Government Affairs.

As RILA’s top lobbyist, Safavian will oversee RILA’s federal and state advocacy, guiding an agenda that includes cyber security, e-fairness, tax reform and other critical issues facing the retail industry.

Amazon: Sellers had ‘record-setting’ year in 2014

Seattle -- Amazon is not a company to shy away from touting its success. On Monday, the online giant announced that third-party sellers on Amazon Marketplace sold a “record-setting” more than two billion items worldwide in 2014, and that the number of its sellers adopting the Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) service grew more than 65% year-over-year worldwide.
Amazon sellers set a record in 2014

The more than 2 million sellers who comprise the Amazon Marketplace sold more than 2 billion items worldwide in 2014, as more and more businesses relied on the retail giant’s fulfillment capabilities.

Marketplace transactions accounted for 40 percent of all products sold through the retail giant last year, the company announced. Also, the number of items sold by Marketplace sellers doubled from 2013 even though the number of Amazon sellers remained the same.
TechBytes: Three Technologies That Will Disrupt Retail in 2015

Last week, I took a look back at three technologies that disrupted retail in 2014. Now that we are kicking off the first work week of the New Year, it’s time to look ahead at three technologies likely to disrupt retail in 2015.

Wearables
Intel invests $25 million in wearable tech vendor

Santa Clara, Calif. - Intel Corp. has made a $24.8 million investment into Vuzix Corp., a provider of wearable display technology video eyewear and smart glasses products in the consumer, commercial and entertainment markets. Vuzix is focused on next-generation optics and displays that have the potential to fit in fashion-based wearable glasses.

Intel's investment will be used for general working capital to accelerate the introduction of Vuzix next generation fashion-based wearable display products into the consumer market.
End of the line for Bottom Dollar Food

It's official: Bottom Dollar Food will close its 66 store locations in the greater Philadelphia and greater Pittsburgh markets by Jan. 15 and retire the banner's operations.

In November, Delhaize Group — the parent company of Bottom Dollar Food — announced the sale of Bottom Dollar's stores and associated lease liabilities to ALDI Inc., which has expressed an interest in growing its U.S. footprint.
Starbucks, Walmart, Kroger execs make NRF's 'List of People Shaping Retail's Future'

Washington, D.C. -- Adam Brothman, chief digital officer of Starbucks, Melissa Reiff, president and COO of The Container Store, Rick Caruso, founder and CEO of Caruso Affiliated, and Greg Buzek, co-founder of the Retail Orphan Initiative (RetailROI) and president of IHL Goup are among the 25 individuals recognized by the NRF Foundation on its “The List of People Shaping Retail’s Future.”
Wet Seal gets $27 million default notice

Embattled teen retailer Wet Seal Inc. has defaulted on $27 million in senior convertible notes and related costs.

In a regulatory filing, Wet Seal said the total amount due is equal to $28.8 million, plus costs of collection, attorneys’ fees and disbursements.
Epicor completes acquisition of ShopVisible

Austin, Texas -- Epicor Software Corporation announced that it has completed its acquisition of privately held ShopVisible, a provider of cloud retail order management and digital commerce solutions.