In today’s top news, Amazon introduced shopping carts that let customers skip checkout lines, and retail sales in Europe surged by nearly 18 percent. Plus, Robinhood raised $320 million.
Amazon Introduces Smart Shopping Carts At LA Supermarkets
Amazon has introduced the next generation shopping cart that lets customers skip checkout lines. The “Dash Cart” is debuting at its Woodland Hills, California, grocery store, tracking orders and charging customers to their linked credit card.
Europe Reopens, Shopping Spree Underway
Retail sales in Europe surged by nearly 18 percent in May compared to April, as shoppers loaded up on clothing, furniture and computer equipment. Germany and France led the way, where government data reports spending has returned to almost where it was a year ago.
Robinhood Raises $320M, Valuation Hits $8.6B
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Commission-free online brokerage Robinhood said Monday (July 13) that it has added $320 million to a funding round disclosed in May, bringing the total for the round to $600 million and producing a valuation for the company of $8.6 billion.
BNPL Sezzle Raises $55M
Minneapolis-based buy now, pay later (BNPL) firm Sezzle has raised $55 million in its latest capital round. According to a press release, the money will go toward furthering the company’s growth strategy and strengthening its balance sheet.
Visa Launches Visa Installments Pilots In The US
Customers and merchants like the option of having point-of-sale (POS) installment plans, but Cetin Duransoy, Visa’s global head of installment solutions, tells Karen Webster the challenge is to make that option available wherever consumers shop — and without having to continually reapply for credit. Visa’s announcement of the launch of Visa Installments, he says, is a big step in that direction — globally. Here’s the how and why.
The Four Features That Spend-Conscious Consumers Want From Mobile Card Apps
Cash-strapped consumers seek more control on their spending during the economic downturn, something that can be especially challenging now that commerce has shifted online. In the Building Better Card App Playbook: The Card User Preferences Edition, PYMNTS surveyed more than 3,000 cardholders to reveal the four must-have features that users of debit cards and balance-revolving credit cards want from their cards’ apps.
Wells Fargo’s Teller, ATM Transactions Drop 28 Pct Amid Pandemic
Wells Fargo reported that its teller and ATM transactions plunged 28 percent in the second quarter amid pandemic-related temporary branch closures.
