TECHNOLOGY

Study: Mobile, social media promotions top back-to-school investments
Besides exceeding their 2016 efforts, retailers’ back-to-school marketing investments are going digital this year. This was according to the “2017 Retailer and Consumer Back-to-School Insights Guide,” a report from RetailMeNot. The study, which was conducted June 6-12, tapped 1,000 U.S. consumers aged 18 and over about their back-to-school spending and deal-seeking goals.
America's favorite home furnishing retailers are...
A wholesale club giant beats out specialty retailers to rank as the nation's favorite home furnishings retailer. Costco Wholesale Corp. is ranks first among consumers when it comes to home furnishings, according to a study by Market Force Information. With a composite loyalty score of 72%, Costco earned the top spot. But Ikea was a close second, with a score of 70%.

Jet.com makes a move to streamline urban deliveries

Walmart’s e-commerce arm is making it easier for New Yorkers — especially those without a doorman — to get their deliveries. Jet.com is teaming up with Latch, a provider of smart building access technologies, to integrate a reader-style electronic access product in 1,000 buildings in New York City. The installation, which is being paid for by the partners, will give more than 100,000 residents the ability to retrieve orders electronically, according to TechCrunch.
Walmart hosts virtual commerce competition

Walmart’s technology incubator — called Store No. 8 — is on the hunt for cutting edge virtual reality (VR) solutions.
J.C. Penney jumps into $20 billion industry with in-store shops

J.C. Penney isn't playing around when it comes to toys.
Things looking up at Target

Target Corp. on Thursday surprised the industry and investors with some good news. The discounter updated its guidance and said that as a result of improved traffic and sales trends through the first two months of the quarter, it expects to report a modest increase in its second quarter same-store sales. Target previously said it expected a decline.
College students to boost back-to-school spending to all-time high

An uptick in college student enrollment will give a big boost to retailers' second biggest shopping season. Combined back-to-school and back-to-college spending is projected to reach $83.6 billion, up more than 10% from last year’s $75.8 billion, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual survey conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics.
Retail giant launches new services, tools for back-to-school

Walmart is making it easier for parents to stay on their game during this year's back-to-school shopping season. According to the National Retail Federation, this year's season is expected to be a strong one and start early. Walmart is rolling out new services to help shoppers easily find what they are looking for — in stores and online.
Walmart looks to help others with women's empowerment

Walmart has launched a digital platform to share tips and learnings that grew out of its five-year Women's Economic Empowerment Initiative. As part of the ambitious initiative, which Walmart completed in January, the chain sourced $20 billion from Women Owned Businesses (WOBs) for its U.S. business, increased sourcing from WOBs internationally, and trained more than 1 million women worldwide.
Specialty retailer integrates omnichannel experience

As Cole Haan expands its breadth, the retail experience must remain consistent — regardless of the touchpoint shoppers use. In partnership with Aptos, the specialty retailer now has a platform that delivers a seamless customer experience throughout the entire shopping journey. Regardless of whether shoppers visit one of the company’s 259 stores across 30 countries, or shop online, now they will get a unified experience.