TECHNOLOGY

Report: Future of retail IoT more than beacons
Omnichannel is so 2016, with mPOS, staff handhelds/wearables, camera analytics, interactive mirrors with AI, chatbots, and VR already shaping up as this year’s overused retail tech buzzwords. At least that's according to ABI Research, whose new report outlines important trends — including 3D sensing — that it believes, while still under the radar, should be top priorities on retailers' technology agendas as they move toward a “smart” retail future.
Study: The first ‘digitally native’ generation shops in stores
Generation Z grew up online, but that doesn’t mean that’s where they do all their shopping. Sixty-seven percent of Gen Z — the first “digitally native” group to grow up not knowing a world before cellular phones, smartphones and other digital devices — said they shop in a bricks-and-mortar store most of the time, with another 31% shopping in-store sometimes, in a new survey by IBM and the National Retail Federation.

Retailer gets caught in political crossfire

L.L. Bean has been drawn into something that it has always shied away: the political spotlight. It all started with the news that Linda Bean, granddaughter of company founder Leon Leonwood Bean and a member of the Bean board, had made a substantial donation to a pro-Trump PAC during the president-elect's campaign. Trump then thanked Bean for her support via a tweet that ended with “Buy L.L.Bean.”
Amazon settles price advertising case for more than $1 million

Amazon is being penalized for inaccurate pricing practices on its Canadian website. According to the Competition Bureau, a Canadian independent law enforcement agency, Amazon will pay a $1 million penalty and $100,000 towards the Competition Bureau’s costs — punishment for violating the Competition Act, a law that ensures consumers are not misled by references to inflated regular prices.
Target is looking for a few good tech start-ups

Target is bringing back its retail accelerator program for a second round. On the heels of the first Target + Techstars retail accelerator, the retailer said it has opened applications for a second round of the program yesterday, inviting retail-specific tech startups worldwide to apply for a chance to relocate to Minneapolis and embed themselves at Target.
Study: Grocers fail to meet shoppers’ fresh needs

Many grocery retailers are still missing the mark when it comes to meeting a key shopper demand. Specifically, 81% of shoppers said they are unable to get produce they want in store, online and at discount retailers, yet 91% of grocery retail professionals are confident they are meeting customer expectations of availability.
Study: Gift card spending hits $46 billion

Despite being criticized as being impersonal gift options, gift cards continue to rise in popularity. In fact, gifts care are increasingly expected and eagerly used, especially among "older" millennial adults, according to “Prepaid and Gift Cards in the U.S., 5th Edition,” a report from market research firm Packaged Facts.
Giving back with feedback

The National Retail Federation is donating $1 (up to $10,000) to RetilROI for every unique session review on the NRF mobile app at the association’s annual “Big Show” in New York City. RetailROI (the Retail Orphan Initiative) is a charity started by the retail community to help orphans and vulnerable children worldwide through clean water, education and computer learning projects.
No more ‘evenings’ at Starbucks

Starbucks Corp. is no longer selling alcohol. The chain will stop selling beer and wine as it brings to an end to its "Evenings" program. The program, currently in operation in 439 company-owned stores in the United States, will end Jan. 10, although it may continue overseas. Also, Starbucks plans to integrate beer and wine into its new higher-end Roastery format.
Target execs share their ‘wow’ picks from 2017 Consumer Electronics Show

Voice-activated technology and connected devices are among the hot tech trends that caught the attention of Target executives at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Target posted the faves of some of its executives on a blog on its website. Here’s a sampling: