TECHNOLOGY

Report: Albertsons’ division eyes home delivery
Jewel-Osco shoppers soon will be able to order groceries directly from their go-to supermarket. By the end of the summer, Jewel-Osco, a division of Albertsons, will offer online ordering. The chain will begin rolling out its e-commerce offering early this summer, according to The Chicago Sun Times.
New grocery delivery program targets business travelers
One hotel chain is putting a new spin on room service. Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham is partnering with Peapod and Instacart on a new grocery delivery pilot. Targeting the many travelers who are eager to keep a few “staples” in their hotel room, but struggle to hunt down the closest grocery store in an unfamiliar city, Hawthorn Suites is piloting a program that delivers groceries directly to guests’ doors.

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.
Giftware retailer focuses on personalization

Lenox knows what its shoppers like — and now it has a way to digitally display luxury products that specifically meet their tastes. Inundated with a steady stream of new products, the giftware retailer needed a way to streamline its presentation of merchandise across digital channels, and still deliver an engaging customer experience. For Lenox, this included deploying the Oracle Commerce Cloud, an architecture that is modernizing the company’s omnichannel shopping experience.
Amazon continues brick-and-mortar push

The nation’s capital has been added to the list of cities that will soon feature an Amazon Books store. The newest Amazon Books location will reside in a 10,000-sq.-ft. space in the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C., The Washington Post reported. The store, which was formerly occupied by Barneys New York, will be Amazon’s 13th bookstore.
Online giant launches grocery service in Germany

AmazonFresh is expanding its breadth in one of its biggest markets outside the United States.
Coming soon: The Walmart Dash button?

Amazon’s signature Dash button may be getting some competition from a rival very soon. A patent filing by Walmart reveals that the retail giant could be developing an Internet of Things-based device that tracks how shoppers use products in their homes and then electronically reorders merchandise.
Study: When it comes to paid search ads, Rent the Runway is Prom Queen

Rent the Runway, a disruptor in traditional formal wear category, is now a leader in the paid search advertising category.
QVC signs up new high-profile partner

Look for Martha Stewart to appear on the QVC channel. Sequential Brands Group announced a multi-year agreement with QVC for Sequential’s Martha Stewart brand. Under the agreement, QVC will launch several categories for the brand, including skincare, fashion apparel, and food and beverage.
Best Buy to launch smart home service

Best Buy is extending its reaching into the fast-growing smart home market by teaming up with a company that makes and installs smart devices. The retailer and Vivint Smart Home announced a partnership, called Best Buy Smart Home powered by Vivint, whereby experts from Vivint will be placed in Best Buy stores to give shoppers advice about smart home devices and installation. The program will start rolling out this summer.