TECHNOLOGY

Amazon adds first hospitality partner to its Shop with Points program
Amazon is giving Hilton Honors members a new way to redeem their points. The global hospitality company is joining Amazon’s Shop With Points program, a move that will enable Hilton Honors members to redeem their loyalty points for purchases on Amazon. Hilton is the first hotel brand to join Amazon’s program.
Discount giant will rely on its own workforce for holiday rush
Walmart is bucking the holiday hiring trend again this year. Unlike other competitors that are hiring thousands of temporary workers to service shoppers during the holiday season, the discount giant plans to offer extra hours to its current associates. These shifts will staff traditional roles like cashier and stocker, and newly created technology-empowered positions, such as personal shoppers and Pickup associates, according to Walmart.

FedEx to hike shipping rates by almost 5%

FedEx will have new shipping rates starting January 1, 2018. All subsidiaries, FedEx Express, FedEx Ground and FedEx Freight, will increase their shipping fees by an average of 4.9%. The company is also imparting additional surcharges across other services. For example, FedEx Express shipping rates will spike by an average of 4.9% for U.S. domestic, U.S. export and U.S. import services. FedEx One Rate pricing will increase by an average of 3.5%.
Licensing agreement helps teen retailer expand into India

American Eagle Outfitters is entering an emerging global retail market. The teen retailer is preparing for its debut in India. American Eagle’s expansion will be supported through a multi-year license agreement with the Aditya Birla Group. The Indian conglomerate has an extensive retail portfolio, as well as strong digital and omnichannel capabilities. The first stores are expected to open in Mumbai and Delhi in Spring 2018.
Deloitte: Retail holiday sales to increase by at least 4%

An uptick in consumer spending could drive sales as high as $1.05 trillion this holiday season. Retail holiday sales should rise a healthy 4% to 4.5% over last year's shopping season — a factor that could drive sales between $1.04 trillion and $1.05 trillion between November 2017 and January 2018, according to the annual retail holiday sales forecast from the firm’s retail and distribution practices. (Holiday sales are seasonally adjusted, and exclude motor vehicles and gasoline.)
Best Buy sets $43 billion revenue goal for 2021

With its transformation deemed complete, Best Buy is looking for solid gains in profits and sales during the next several years. It also sees expanded opportunities for growth in new smart home initiatives.
George Zimmer's Generation Tux acquires online rival

The fledgling but growing online formal menswear rental category tuxedo rentals market has a new power player. Generation Tux, the online suit and tuxedo rental company founded in 2014 by retail veteran George Zimmer, who founded Men’s Wearhouse, has completed the acquisition of Menguin for $25 million. The announcement comes at a time when Menguin, founded in 2013, has experienced three years of 800% compound annual growth rate, according to a company statement.
Study: Back-to-school shopping not over yet

School may be back in session, but the back-to-school (BTS) shopping frenzy continues. And as parents continue to purchase merchandise from newly distributed classroom supply lists, 42% of BTS shoppers expect to spend more this school year compared to 2016, according to new research and insights from Acosta, a sales and marketing agency in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) and retail merchandising industry.
Price is not the biggest driver for the first native digital generation

Social media plays a huge role — bigger than pricing — when it comes to influencing the purchase decisions of Generation Z.
Study: Shoppers not shying away from voice, chatbots, other new technologies

When connecting with retailers, consumers are warming up to more complex and emerging technologies. Retailers are starting to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) and voice technology into communications with shoppers — and consumers are increasingly receptive. In fact, 79% of shoppers have used text, messenger apps or voice devices, and 74% indicated they have used live chat when shopping.