TECHNOLOGY

Study: Marketers still rely heavily on email promotions to drive revenue
Email remains the go-to strategy for retailers to grab their piece of the digital pie — yet efforts don’t always meet their shoppers’ needs. Three-fourths (76%) of marketers said they rely heavily on email promotions to drive revenue, and one-third said more than half of all emails sent include a promotion or discount, according to a new survey from Coherent Path.
J.C. Penney extending appliances initiative
J.C. Penney is extending its appliance showroom footprint and also delving deeper into the category. The retailer will expand its in-store appliance showroom concept from its current 500 stores to an additional 100 locations in early 2017, and also add new appliance brands to the merchandise mix, company chairman and CEO Marvin Ellison said on Penney’s quarterly earnings call.

Survey: Top priority of CEOs is...

Digital transformation is CEOs’ number one priority this year. To make this a reality, chief executives are investing their capital in the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, robotics, and augmented reality, according to “CEO Viewpoint 2017: The Transformation of Retail,” a report from JDA Software Group and PwC.
Beauty retailer gets ‘virtual makeover’

A new kind of makeup consultant is assisting shoppers at Watsons Shanghai. The health and beauty retailer’s flagship store in Shanghai now features a makeover kiosk. Equipped with the Consultation Mode augmented reality app from YouCam Makeup, the device enables shoppers to try on over 30 different products from their favorite makeup brands, including MaxFactor, Maybelline, and KATE Cosmetics.
Twitter makes direct messages more personal

Twitter is taking a new approach to “humanize” its business partners’ customer service-based “Direct Messages.” Twitter’s new feature – “Custom Profiles in Direct Messages” – allows businesses to better emphasize the human element in private conversations, as well as more clearly indicate when a bot is speaking, according to Twitter.
Fashion retailer launches designer ‘Lab’

Nordstrom is taking new designers under its wing, and giving them some “space” for exposure. On Tuesday, Feb 21, the department store chain launched “The Lab,” an incubator project that will showcase and support new designers in select stores and online.
Amazon ups the ante on the free shipping race

Amazon has again raised the stakes in the home shipping war. Almost a year after raising its free shipping minimum for non-Prime customers from $35 to $50, Amazon subtly announced on its website that it is once again honoring free shipping on orders of $35.
Men’s specialty retailer streamlines financial transaction auditing

As retailers expand the breadth of their omnichannel operations, they need better visibility into their financial data. This is not an easy task for retailers like Tailored Brands, whose expansive retail portfolio includes Men's Wearhouse, Jos. A. Bank, Joseph Abboud, Moores Clothing for Men and K&G Fashion Superstore. The company also operates a global corporate apparel and workwear group consisting of Twin Hill in the U.S. and Dimensions, Alexandra and Yaffy in the U.K.
Report: AmazonGo to sell spirits

Amazon’s new convenience store may not have cashiers, but a new product category will require someone to check shopper IDs. Along with its sandwiches, salads and snacks, Amazon plans to sell beer and wine from its AmazonGo store in Seattle, Recode said.
Commentary: Implications for Grocery Retailers as Lidl Launches Stateside

While Lidl has made clear its plans to expand to the U.S., many grocery retailers may not have expected it to make its stateside debut quite so soon. Recent reports that the chain will open its first stores on U.S. soil this summer, ahead of schedule, mean that the pressure is on for domestic grocery chains to determine how to react to their latest challenger.