TECHNOLOGY

Attracting — and sustaining — loyal online customers is no easy task.    However, retailers that offer innovative customer service tools, a variety of fulfillment options, and engagement solutions will successfully turn frequent browsers into loyal shoppers. These details were revealed in a new retail report from Radial and CFI Group.  

A new partnership is helping Sur La Table take the term “farm to table” to a new level.   Sur La Table is the go-to source for all things culinary — from cooking tools and kitchen gadgets to tableware. All it was missing was a way to be at their shoppers’ beck and call — and at a moment’s notice — as they prepared a stellar meal.  

New attitudes, behaviors and shopping preferences among Generation Z and Millennials are keeping retailers on their toes.    Emerging in-store technologies and positive social media feedback are top priorities among both Generation Z and Millennial consumers. This is according to retail advisory firm HRC Retail Advisory (HRC), which surveyed 1,350 participants in North America about their shopping experiences.  

The growth of e-commerce and the increasing emphasis on delivery speed as well as pick-up services for retail goods will likely precipitate a convergence of industrial distribution and retail real estate.   

Wayfair is making it easy for customers to emulate decor trends from one of cable television's most popular series.    Wayfair is collaborating with HGTV home improvement and house flipping series “Brother vs. Brother.” The popular show features siblings Jonathan and Drew Scott competing to see who can make the biggest profit when flipping renovated properties. The Wayfair-HGTV partnership will enable viewers to shop the looks featured on the show directly on Wayfair.  

Woolworths is taking steps to bolster its online shopping experience.   Woolworths South Africa, a division of Woolworths Proprietary Limited, is known for its vast assortment ranging from groceries, fresh produce and prepared food to clothing, beauty products, home goods and general merchandise. As the company entered into the world of omnichannel, it knew it had to deliver easy access to its merchandise, and provide a painless experience for online customers.  

Wary about business conditions and jobs, consumer confidence dipped a bit further in May. But consumer still remain optimistic on the whole about the economy.     The Conference Board said Tuesday that its Consumer Confidence Index fell to 117.9 in May, from a revised 119.4 in April. The index hit 124.9 in March, its highest mark in 16 years.  

Amazon’s latest grocery initiative is now up and running for customers.   AmazonFresh Pickup, the online grocer’s drive-by grocery delivery service, allows Amazon Prime members to order groceries online and pick them up in as little as 15 minutes. The concept launched in March, with two locations in Seattle. Initially in a beta mode, the service was available only to Amazon employees. But as of May 25, it is now open also to Amazon prime members in the general public.