TECHNOLOGY

Study: Optimistic buzz connected to Amazon, Whole Foods Market deal
Customers that shop at both Amazon and Whole Foods Market are the most upbeat about the online giant’s purchase of the natural foods grocer. This was according to a new GfK report that was conducted among 1,000 US adults (ages 18 and above) using KnowledgePanel, the company’s probability-based online panel that represents the adult U.S. population. Responses were collected from June 23-26.
J.C. Penney ups the ante with Apple Pay
A department store retailer is stepping up its mobile game — in more ways than one. J.C Penney now accepts Apple Pay across all of its stores nationwide. This addition enables customers to electronically pay with multiple versions of the iPhone and the Apple Watch.

Luxury retailer launches online in China

Louis Vuitton is making a move to grab its share of the booming online shopping market in China. The French fashion brand quietly debuted an e-commerce website that sells leather goods, small leather goods, shoes, accessories, watch and jewelry, luggage, and perfume. The site marks Louis Vuitton’s 11th e-commerce market since it launched its first site in France in 2005, according to CNBC.
Walmart expands fleet of ‘Pickup Towers’

More Walmart stores are adding those massive vending machines that cater to online order in-store pickup. The retailing giant will expand its automated online order pickup kiosks to 80 more locations across the country over the next several months, according to Business Insider. The pickup vending machine, which was introduced in a single store in Bentonville, Arkansas last year, is currently available in 20 stores,
Sprint mocks rival in pop-up store stunt
Amazon’s fulfillment arm will pay full price to bolster global inventory

Amazon is making its marketplace sellers an offer that is hard to refuse. The online giant’s Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) division is rolling out a new program that will buy products from third-party merchants at full price, then sell them to consumers across the globe. The program is a move to build Amazon’s global inventory, according to CNBC.
Fast-food giant automates development strategy

Subway is more accurately planning new locations. The fast-causal restaurant chain is partnering with location intelligence provider SiteZues, to augment its development strategy. The company’s data-driven solution will combine advanced geospatial technology and visualization with Subway’s market data. The result will be more thorough and accurate insights — the foundation Subway needs to plan and expand its market growth.
Abercrombie expanding in a big way in China

Abercrombie & Fitch is setting its sights on Chinese teens in a new partnership with China's online giant. The retailer will start selling its namesake brand and Abercrombie kids line on Alibaba Group's Tmall website, starting on July 26. Tmall, which is China's largest consumer website for brands and retailers, has carried Abercrombie's Hollister brand since 2014.
Study: Online glitches jeopardize customer trust

Websites with technical difficulties do more than frustrate shoppers — they damage a brand’s reputation. This was according to a new survey from QualiTest Group. The report, which was conducted with Google Consumer Surveys in June 2017, was based on a sample of more than 1,000 respondents from the United States between the ages of 18 and 54.
Study: Brick-and-mortar retailers feel Prime Day fallout

Prime Day 2017 was Amazon’s biggest event yet. But the shopping marathon took a significant toll on brick-and-mortar traffic.