TECHNOLOGY

Amazon increased holiday TV ad spend in a big way
While most retailers reduced traditional advertising spend in favor of digital sources this holiday season, Amazon made an unprecedented move to television. This was according to the “MediaRadar Trend Report” that examined holiday advertising spend among Amazon, Walmart, Target, Macy’s, Sears, Kohl’s, Nordstrom, and J.C. Penney, between October and November 2016. When comparing holiday ad spend by retailer, here is how the companies fared:
Generation Z leads the omnichannel parade
When it comes to combining in-store visits and online product research or purchase, Generation Z (ages 18 to 26) leads all other shopper age groups in the U.S., lending some spark an otherwise flat “omnishopping” environment.

Three Ways AI Can Enhance Customer Experience

At its recent I/O 2016 developer festival, Google signaled its intent to embrace artificial intelligence. With Google’s fall release of the Pixel phone and, more important, its Assistant, the transition to an AI-powered future is underway.
Report: J.C. Penney test deeper dive into appliances

J.C. Penney is testing a category more typically associated with Home Depot or Lowe’s than a department store: heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems. According to a report by Dallas Morning News, the test is being done in partnership with Trane, an HVAC company, and includes a display of the HVAC service near the major appliances at a few locations.
ICSC: Holiday procrastination means increased Christmas Eve shopping

Christmas Eve may only be a mere three days away, however 20% of adults plan to shop for holiday gifts or holiday-related items that day. That’s according to “The 2016 ICSC Super Saturday study,” which was conducted by the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) from December 8-11, 2016. The survey comprises responses from 1,025 adults of 18 years of age and older.
Shake Shack app goes national

The ordering app that Shake Shack has been testing in key urban markets like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles is now rolling out nationally. Users pick their food items and extras on the app, pre-pay, designate a pick-up time from a selection of 15-minute increments, then retrieve their orders at a pick-up window. A list of past transactions allows them to re-order favorites.
PetSmart’s holiday gift: Free same-day deliveries

As the online shopping window is closing for traditional home delivery, PetSmart is offering free same-day shipments until Dec. 24. The service is available in 17 metro areas across the nation, including Boston, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Francisco, San Jose, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Miami, Seattle, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., New York City, Yonkers and Northern New Jersey. Overall, the same-day deliveries will cover nearly 2,500 ZIP codes.
7-Eleven completes first month of drone deliveries

7-Eleven has completed 77 autonomous drone deliveries to customer homes in the United States. Through its collaboration with Flirtey, a service that supports commercial drone deliveries to customer homes in the United States, the convenience store chain conducted regular weekend deliveries to mobile shoppers during November. A dozen select shoppers used a custom app to place orders, which were fulfilled from a dedicated 7-Eleven store, the company said.
Five top trends for grocery stores in 2017

More digital connections and a speedier checkout process rank among the top trends for grocery shopping in 2017. That’s according to John Karolefski, supermarket analyst and purveyor of GroceryStories.com, who also predicts a more diverse produce department, increased availability of meal kits, and better access to product information. "The top trends for 2017 will result in improved loyalty to stores and more informed shoppers," said Karolefski.
Union for air pilots warns about last-minute Amazon holiday deliveries

The union that represents cargo pilots who fly Amazon goods has launched online ads that warn staffing problems could lead to delayed deliveries. The ads, set to run on Facebook and Google, link to a site called “Can Amazon Deliver?” that outlines alleged staffing issues at two cargo airlines from which Amazon leases planes, reported ReCode.