TECHNOLOGY

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.
Wellness retailer’s new loyalty program gets personal
GNC Holdings plans to drive customer engagement by rewarding individual customers with targeted incentives.

2017 Breakout Retailer Award Winners Announced

Chain Store Age is proud to announce the 2017 Breakout Retailer Award winners. In its second year, the award honors emerging retail/restaurant concepts that are innovative in their segment and show strong potential for growth.
Survey: These retailers top customer service expectations

Exceptional customer service is key to driving long-term customer loyalty — and once again, B&H Photo Video, The Home Depot and Zappos are blazing the path. For the second year in a row, these three heavy hitters topped the 20th Annual Mystery Shopping Study. The report from Astound Commerce recognized retailers who excel in customer service through an assessment of “must-have” website features and behavior based on engagement with available touchpoints.
Social media giant assists businesses with hiring

Retailers may have a new way to spread the word about their job openings. Facebook now allows businesses in the United States and Canada to post available positions on their company pages or in the new “Jobs on Facebook” bookmark. Facebook users can also see job posts in their news feed, and alongside other posts on Facebook’s business pages, the social network said.
Tech giant creates global IoT headquarters

IBM is taking the next step in its IoT journey. The technology provider has opened the doors of its new $200 million global headquarters for its Watson Internet of Things (IoT) business in Munich, Germany. The space will also serve as an innovation space for the European IoT standards organization, EEBus. "We have reached a tipping point with IoT innovation,” said Harriet Green, general manager, IBM Watson IoT, cognitive engagement and education.
Wireless provider rewards customers with free fuel

T-Mobile’s digital loyalty program just got more valuable. The company’s “T-Mobile Tuesdays” app delivers free gifts and dis-counts to its users each week. Through its partnership with Excentus, the wireless provider now features a 25-cent-per-gallon “Fuel Rewards” discount code within its weekly rewards rotation.
Google Home helps users ‘go shopping’

Google Home is giving Amazon’s Echo a run for its (shopping) money. On Thursday, Google announced that shoppers can use Google Home to order everyday basics from Google Express retailers, including Costco, Whole Foods Market, Walgreens, PetSmart, Bed Bath & Beyond and others, reported GeekWire.
Reimagining Retail: Sur La Table

Recently, I was in my kitchen making Veal Provençal for my kids. As I reached for the can of peeled tomatoes, my worn out can opener broke in my hand. I turned to my Alexa device and told it to order a new can opener from Edlund. Two days later, the package awaited me when I got home.
Specialty retailer boosts online revenue with enhanced marketing tool

Driving conversion in a digital landscape requires a new level of engagement. Pacific Sunwear of California has found a way to reconnect with its digital shoppers, as well as improve its click performance, drive conversion, and thus, sales. Using Rakuten Marketing Search, a solution available through Kenshoo’s advertising platform, the retailer is refining its strategic marketing approach, focusing on consumer engagement (click performance) and automating its ad spend management processes.