TECHNOLOGY

Luggage giant readies for order visibility
Samsonite has selected a cloud-based solution to enhance its omnichan-nel operations and improve order visibility, flexibility, profitability and speed. The luggage company will deploy the Aptos Enterprise Order Management solution. The tool will serve as a central commerce hub and manage all orders throughout their lifecycle, from initiation to fulfillment and delivery.
Target debuts 360° shopping
Target Corp. is taking a cue from Hollywood to help shoppers create the living room of their dreams. The discounter is using the same type of computer generated imagery that figures in movie blockbusters to create a 360-degree, virtual reality-like experience on its website. And it’s shoppable.

Jet.com ventures into physical retail
Amazon to build homeless facility — at its new headquarters
Digital ads most effective when they include…

Shoppers may notice digital ads, but they are not necessarily clicking on, or responding to, them. That’s according to a new study by Valassis, “Motivating the Dynamic Shopper: Purchase Decisions In-Progress,” which analyzes how digital ads best engage and then motivate customers to take action. Three groups were studied; parents, millennials and Gen X.
Online giant tops in ‘brand intimacy’

Amazon leads the way in the retail industry when it comes to creating an emotional bond with customers, but the industry as a whole lags behind two other categories. That’s according to MBLM’s Brand Intimacy 2017 Report, in which Amazon placed first in the retail category. followed by Whole Foods Market and Target Corp. The remaining brands in the top 10 for the retail industry are: H&M, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Sephora, Ikea, The Home Depot and eBay.
Amazon making inroads in sales of ‘e-commerce immune’ items

Shoppers are increasingly turning to Amazon for purchasing bulky goods that traditionally haven’t sold all that well online.
Amazon seeks to one-up Walmart on free shipping

The free shipping wars seem to be heating up again. In a posting on its website, Amazon said it has lowered its free shipping minimum for non-Prime members on eligible items to $25. Merchandise will be delivered in five to eight business days. It’s the second time this year that Amazon has made it easier for shoppers to qualify for free shipping. In February, the online giant reduced its minimum order amount from $49 to $35.
Survey: Don’t ignore online customers post-purchase

What happens after an order is placed is crucial in driving website traffic and revenue.
Could this be JackThreads’ final ‘farewell?’

Online menswear retailer seems to be at the end of its rope — or in this case, thread. E-retailer JackThreads’ website is promoting its “Farewell Sale,” which is selling all merchandise, site-wide, for 70% — and all is final sale. While the company did not post any messages saying that the company is ceasing operations, the site’s “Work With Us” page has been closed.