TECHNOLOGY

Beauty giant to launch branded credit-card program
Ulta Beauty is expanding its popular Ultamate Rewards loyalty program. The retailer is partnering with Alliance Data Systems Corp. Alliance will develop and manage the Ultamate Rewards Credit Card, which is designed to enhance the benefits of the chain’s loyalty program. Alliance will provide private-label and co-branded credit card services for Ulta, the largest beauty retailer in the United States, operating 886 stores nationwide.
Online kid’s apparel brand makes retail debut with subscription model
A new start-up is looking to take the hassle out of shopping for kid’s clothing and accessories.

Survey: Consumers like omnichannel features, but have data concerns

Consumers know what they want: seamless shopping between online and offline. But they are worried about sharing the data that allows retailers to fully implement it.
Department store retailer strengthens ties with J.Crew brand

Nordstrom is doubling down on its partnership with J.Crew Group’s Madewell brand. The department store chain plans to expand the brand to an additional 20 stores this fall. It’s the third distribution expansion since the initial launch of the partnership in March 2015, and will result in the retailer carrying Madewell goods in a total of 76 locations in the U.S. and Canada, as well as on Nordstrom.com.
Study: Digital revolution transforming shopper marketing

Online marketing is sparking radical changes — and growth — in shopper marketing. That’s according to a new report from the ANA (Association of National Advertisers), conducted in partnership with market research firm GfK, which finds that shopper marketing, long considered an in-store discipline, is evolving into an omnichannel approach designed to reach shoppers at all touchpoints.
Unilever buys Dollar Shave Club in megadeal

Consumer goods giant Unilever is paying a reported $1 billion to buy an online retail start-up that has yet to turn to profit. Unilever PLC announced it is buying Dollar Shave Club, the razor delivery subscription service known for its irreverent brand positioning and viral You Tube videos. Terms of the deal were not announced, but The New York Times and other media outlets reported Unilever is paying $1 billion in cash for the scrappy company, which has yet to turn a profit but expects to do so by yearend.
Study: Book retailer shows brand strength

A familiar chain has been named the most powerful retail brand of 2016. According to the 2016 Top 100 Most Powerful Brands report from brand marketing firm Tenet Partners, Barnes & Nobile is the most powerful retail brand, and 32nd most powerful brand overall, of the year. This is the second straight year Barnes & Noble ranked highest among retailers.
Deloitte: Retailers should catch early bird back-to-school shoppers

Hesitating to offer back-to-school deals could result in significant loss of potential sales.
GameStop has big plans for virtual reality

Augmented reality mobile game Pokémon Go has given a big sales boost to GameStop.
Survey: Back-to-school shoppers will spend more, but wisely

Parents making back-to-school purchases are willing to open their wallets, if the price is right. That’s according to a new study from digital savings platform RetailMeNot Inc., "Back-to-School Cheat Sheet: Consumer Trends and Insights for Retailers," back-to-school shoppers plan to spend an average of $273 per child, up from their anticipated spending of $246 in 2015.