TECHNOLOGY

Walmart signs on for Facebook's new platform
The nation's largest private employer is working with the country's largest social network. Walmart has signed on to use Facebook’s Workplace enterprise collaboration platform. Launched in fall 2016, Workplace is designed to connect colleagues within a company, and allow them to message each other, share images and broadcast live videos.
American Eagle Outfitters in new loyalty offerings
American Eagle Outfitters has gone omnichannel with its loyalty program. The teen apparel retailer announced the launch of AEO Connected, a highly digitized loyalty program for its American Eagle and Aerie customers. Over 16 million current rewards members were immediately converted to AEO Connected.

Nordstrom in deal with fast-growing online apparel start-up

Nordstrom is collaborating with a retailer known for its high-quality, ethically made fashion basics and "radical transparency." The department store retailer's themed pop-up shop concept, Pop-In@Nordstrom, will be dedicated to a collection of products from Everlane. The in-store shop will launch in eight Nordstrom stores on Sept. 29, and run through Nov. 12. Items will also be available online.
The busiest online shopping day in history will be...

Black Friday is still No. 1 when it comes to setting sales records. Black Friday, which falls on Nov. 24 this year, will be the busiest digital shopping day in U.S. history, exceeding Cyber Monday (Nov. 27) for the second year in a row, according to a report by Salesforce.
Kroger creates new website to help identify local product vendors

Kroger on Friday launched a new website to welcome local and emerging brands to partner with the company.
Innovative retail concept in store expansion mode

A tech-savvy retailer with an unusual business model is expanding its brick-and-mortar footprint nationally. b8ta announced plans to open four new stores, designed by Gensler, with locations in San Francisco, San Jose, Calif. (Santana Row), Houston (Galleria), and New York City. The expansion, which brings the company's total store count to nine, kicks off with the opening of a store in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley neighborhood on Sept. 29.
Jewelry brand teams up with Mastercard on VR shopping app
Report: Consumers to get early jump on holiday shopping

More and more Americans plan to get an early start on their holiday shopping. And they also plan on spending more. Nearly half (45%) of Americans plan to start holiday shopping before November, with one in four starting before October, according to RetailMeNot's 2017 Holiday Retail Trends and Guide. Retailers are capitalizing on this earlier start: Nearly 80% indicated they will begin holiday marketing efforts earlier this year.
Study: Fraud losses, management eat up more than one-fifth of retailer revenue

Merchants’ fraud costs are a growing expense — and the pace shows no sign of slowing. Fraud losses and management eat 8% of the average e-commerce retailer’s revenue, up from 7.6% in 2016, according to “2017 Financial Impact of Fraud Study: Exploring the Financial Impact of Fraud in a Digital World.” The report is from Vesta Corp. and Javelin Strategy & Research.
Report: Aerosoles exec to lead Walmart's online fashion team

Walmart has tapped a retail veteran to bolster its foothold in its growing online fashion category. Denise Incandela was named Walmart’s senior VP, fashion, effective October 2, 2017. She will lead the fashion businesses for Walmart.com, Jet.com, and Shoes.com, according to Fashion Network. In her new role, she will report to Walmart’s chief revenue officer Scott Hilton, the report said.