Dick’s wants the ability to create and control solutions that meet its specific business needs and place itself into a position of competitive advantage over rivals. Do you approve of the decision by Dick’s to bring its software development in-house rather than rely on solutions from third-party vendors?
Simon Property Group has announced the beta test of a new online shopping platform to help boost traffic and sales of tenants at its outlet malls in both the digital and physical world. How do you expect SPO to affect the overall sales of the brands selling on the online platform?
The Kellogg Co. last November partnered to pilot a solution that embeds eye-tracking technology in a mobile virtual reality headset to reinvent how brands and retailers gather critical consumer data at the store level. What do you think of the benefits of combining VR with eye-tracking to inform in-store merchandising?
Whole Foods has opened a “bodega-like convenience store” in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, according to Eater. Do you think a convenience store concept in busy city neighborhoods makes sense for Whole Foods?
Just a couple of years ago, Wayfair CEO Niraj Shah spoke about how Americans were becoming increasingly open to online furniture shopping. Now The furniture retailer has announced plans to open its first full-service store. Do you see Wayfair’s full-service furniture store as the first of many for the retailer?
If consumers want to shop and pay on Instagram or use Facetime to co-shop with distant friends, retailers better figure it out. That challenge is no different when it comes to augmented reality. What signals would indicate that retailers should be ramping up AR or VR investments?
Robots that can prepare food have become a perennial part of the discussion of the future of the quick service customer experience — and the employment landscape, as well. Are baristas’ jobs on the line with the advent of gourmet coffee robots?
Sephora and Ulta Beauty have dominated beauty specialty for a while and appear destined for more head-to-head battles. Is Sephora or Ulta better positioned for growth in the beauty category?
Yesterday, McDonald’s announced it would acquire Dynamic Yield Ltd., a firm that specializes in creating personalization and decision logic tech. What benefits will McDonald’s see with the deployment of recommendation tech at drive-thrus, in-store kiosks and on its mobile app?
While the department store channel garners much of the negative retail press these days, specialty stores generally earned poor marks in our annual consumer study, “The Good, The Bad & The Ugly.” Have specialty retailers been affected any more or less by online disruption than other retail verticals?
