Amazon recently wrote to President Joe Biden to offer help in fighting COVID-19, while Walmart has unveiled a new collaboration with Western Union to bolster money transfers, bill payments and money orders. In corporate structure, Planet Fitness has grown its board to bring on new members from outside the fitness sector. And in dining, quick-service restaurants are...
Many well-known retail chains have collapsed pre-pandemic and during the pandemic, but some legendary retail brands, such as Barneys New York and Pier 1, are coming back to life in some fashion. In retail logistics, Costco is piloting curbside pickup at three New Mexico locations after resisting the idea for a long while. And...
Jennifer Lopez recently made a deal to utilize Flowcode’s system to market her new skincare line, starting with quick-response (QR) codes embedded in an advertisement spread. In brick-and-mortar, retailers are overestimating demand for buy online, pick up in-store (BOPIS), but they are underestimating demand for delivery. In digital technology, Google is launching...
Beauty technology firm Perfect Corp. is letting consumers digitally “try on” different makeup, hair colors, hairstyles, nail polish and other looks. In brick and mortar, the number of U.S. convenience stores dropped last year amid the pandemic, yet many shops are fighting back with digital technology and other innovations. And in...
Virginia-based CarLotz is seeking to disrupt the used-car business and go public this week. The firm provides an omnichannel platform that sells vehicles online and also via a network of “hubs” where shoppers can visit in person. In healthcare retail, COVID-19 vaccines could provide a boost for CVS, Walgreens and other pharmacies. And in...
Amazon and Walmart remained flat or lost ground in the battle for overall U.S. retail and consumer spend in Q3, even as the pandemic continued to push consumers toward online shopping. In automated retail, the Hudson Group intends to bring Amazon’s “Just Walk Out” technology to some of the C-stores it runs at North American airports...
Target crushed online commerce and reported decent in-store sales volume for the holidays, while Urban Outfitters and Nordstrom had weak in-store traffic that even fairly positive online volume couldn’t surmount. In retail technology, Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions’ new Elera system aims to supplant in-store IT systems with a new cloud-enabled technology. And in digital innovation, mobile...
Some closed or struggling shopping malls are being reinvented as headquarters or campuses for companies. In pandemic commerce, small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) that have embraced the digital shift have come across a business model that can move them from “survive” to “thrive.” And in logistics, General Motors is rolling out...
Salesforce is launching a new product to make it easier for firms to add loyalty programs, while Zing Bars is growing its direct-to-consumer (D2C) channel for healthy snacks amid the pandemic. In retail innovation, many American consumers still want a digital-first shopping experience even after a COVID-19 vaccine. And in digital onboarding, geocoding and...
