Reporters from The Wall Street Journal and the Los Angeles Times recently simulated firing a virtual employee to explore how well virtual reality (VR) works as a training tool for employees. Is virtual reality more effective than real-life role-playing or other training methods for stores?
If Amazon implements its latest high-tech checkout innovation at Whole Foods, customers won’t need to pull out a credit card — a wave of the hand will do the trick. The solution uses hand-based identification to facilitate payment. What advantages/disadvantages might hand recognition have over other methods of enhanced checkout?
Jockey International, the premium underwear and apparel brand, announced that it will open its first-ever pop-up shop at Simon’s edit @ Roosevelt Field space, which provides a showcase primarily for consumer-direct brands without a current physical store presence. What will be the keys to success for Jockey as it launches its first-ever pop-up shop at edit @ Roosevelt Field?
The Vitamin Shoppe announced it is moving into the crowded supplement subscription market with the launch of Only Me, a program that delivers a tailored mix of vitamins and supplements to members on a monthly basis. Will having physical stores provide an advantage for Vitamin Shoppe in its efforts to capture share of the supplement subscription market?
Walmart will, as a precaution, discontinue sales of short-barrel rifle ammunition, once the company has fulfilled its current obligations with suppliers. Do you think retailers are compelled to take steps to mitigate gun violence because of the failure of political leaders to do so?
Now one of the biggest names in Midwest grocery has announced the launch of a second small concept store in one of its major Michigan markets. Will launching small, urban, hyperlocal store concepts be as important for regional superstore retailers like Meijer as it is for major chains like Target?
As we continue to observe loyalty programs across multiple sectors, time and again we see failures that can readily be solved. What do see as some common shortcomings in the execution of loyalty programs?
Lowe’s will sell NFL-branded merchandise online and reserve space in select stores for fan merchandise geared to local teams for the first time, and launch an online “homegating” video series to inspire football fans as they prepare for the NFL season. Is homegating still an underserved opportunity overall for retail?
Walmart has partnered with BuzzFeed’s Tasty video site for “shoppable” recipes. Users browsing Tasty’s 4,000 online recipes can add the necessary ingredients to their cart and check out with Walmart for in-store pickup or home delivery. Do you see shoppable recipes becoming a major driver of online grocery selling?
H&M has selected 15 employees to lead its first employee ambassador program in the U.S. What do you think of H&M’s plan to use employees as influencers as well as its new focus on lifelong ambassadors?
