TECHNOLOGY

Report: In-store electronic pricing helps bottom line
Electronic shelf labels are poised to gain momentum. That’s according to a new report by ABI Research, which said that several big-box retail deployments of the technology will trigger a domino effect in market growth over the next two years. The company predicted that the electronic shelf label (ESL) market will grow tenfold by 2022, hitting more than $4 billion in global revenues.
Tech Bytes: ‘Transfiguration’ take-aways from Oracle Industry Connect
Shoppers want their favorite brands to know who they are, feature their preferred merchandise, and overall, offer an “experience” that appeals to them — and only them. This point was driven home at Oracle Industry Connect, held in Orlando, Florida, March 20-22. During the conference, industry observers defined how retail is undergoing a “transfiguration,” or a shift to providing an elevated customer experience. What’s at the core of this change? In a word: personalization.

Home furnishings chain tries its hand at augmented reality

Williams-Sonoma is throwing its hat into the 3D app ring. Later this month, the chain’s Pottery Barn banner will introduce 3D Room View. The augmented reality mobile app, which is based on Google’s AR technology Tango, enables shoppers using Tango-enabled smartphones to “virtually” place Pottery Barn merchandise in any of their rooms. The goal: to enable shoppers to see how products look and fit with their existing furniture and decor — or in an empty room.
Webinar: The New Era of 'Responsive Retail’

Chain Store Age will sponsor a Webinar on one of the most important issues facing store retailers: How to connect emerging solutions and technology disruptors — and take advantage of rich data sets filtering through these systems — to meet new demands across retail operations and the customer experience.
Report: Nordstrom creates tux rental showrooms

The department store chain is putting a new spin on formalwear rentals. Through its partnership with tuxedo rental startup The Black Tux, Nordstrom hopes to attract male millennials to its new formalwear showrooms in six stores, according to ReCode.
Starbucks ramps up digital plans — especially voice-activated ones

While Starbucks’ is ramping up its commitment to digital initiatives, one of its newest programs gives a new meaning to “ordering on the go.”
Westfield’s smart screens to serve up customized offers to mall shoppers

State-of-the-art digital screens that can identify demographic information of passersby and pitch them personalized offers from brands are making their way into Westfield malls in top DMAs. Employing a proprietary suite of technologies, the six-foot-tall, high-definition screens scan passersby and — apparently through smartphone data and facial imaging — determine their demographic profiles to serve them customized ads.
Moody’s: U.S. supermarkets’ profits to rise in 2017

Moody's Investors Service has some good news for the U.S. supermarket industry. Grocery stores’ operating profits will grow at a fairly healthy rate again this year after a disappointing 2016, according to Moody’s new report, "Companies Will Perform Better in 2017 as Deflationary Pressure Wanes. Profitability last year was crimped by an unprecedented level of deflation for an economy not in recession, the report noted, but as downward pressure on prices wanes, things will pick up in the latter half of this year.
Survey: Consumers like technology — if they are in control

Consumers feel good about some — but not all — retail technologies. That’s according to a new study by Oracle, Retail 2025, which reveals that consumers are most willing to engage brands with new technology if they feel that they are in control of their experience.
Two retail associations to combine risk events

The Food Marketing Institute and National Retail Federation will combine their existing risk and safety signature events into one cross-industry event starting in 2018. The two groups will sponsor Protect in 2018, according to an announcement made Wednesday at the FMI’s Audit, Safety, Asset Protection Conference in Orlando.