In-Store Technology

How Crate and Barrel is Bringing Digital In-Store
February 16, 2018 at 12:18 pm

In episode 131 of Total Retail Talks, Brian Schultz, senior director, e-commerce and digital product management, Crate and Barrel, discusses how the furniture and home decor retailer is using technology to better connect its customers’ online and offline shopping experiences. Schultz details how Crate and Barrel's native mobile app plays a role in customers’ in-store…

When it Comes to Adopting In-Store Technology, Speed Matters
February 7, 2018 at 10:06 am

While the retail industry comes to terms with its need to innovate, some brands are finding that great aspirations aren’t all that matters. Speed does, too. With that in mind, some companies are making aggressive moves to adopt new in-store solutions as quickly as possible. As GeoMarketing points out, Neiman Marcus has taken this commitment to heart,…

The 2018 Retail Landscape Will Be Driven by Digital Experiences
January 31, 2018 at 2:27 pm

One sector of the retail industry that has taken a beating the past few years has been brick-and-mortar stores. And it’s no wonder; online spending continues to climb. Store closures across the country are happening in record numbers, with 8,600 stores closing in 2017. Predictions of retail’s demise make headlines. However, these calls are overblown, as savvy…

2018 Retail Trends to Watch For
January 25, 2018 at 9:42 am

It's estimated that over 30 percent of malls in the United States are dead or dying. That amounts to millions of square feet of commercial space. Does this mean retail is dead? While we're going through a metamorphosis in the retail space, I believe retail isn't dead, it’s simply evolving. Demographics, transportation, logistics, technology and…

Amazon Opens Automated Grocery Store, Amazon Go, to the Public
January 22, 2018 at 11:14 am

Amazon.com on Monday will open Amazon Go, its automated grocery store in Seattle, to the public. The store replaces cashiers with a checkout-free shopping experience made with with what Amazon calls "Just Walk Out" technology that uses computer vision, deep learning algorithms and sensor fusion — many of the same advances being used to develop autonomous…

4 Retail Technology Trends to Watch in 2018
January 18, 2018 at 11:48 am

As I look at retail technology trends to watch in 2018, they are underpinned by one common denominator: big data powered by advanced analytics. Smart use of data and analytics to understand the customer, both online and in-store, as well as using new tools to deliver the best customer experience, will be essential for retailers…

How Experiential Retail is Disrupting an Industry
January 18, 2018 at 11:07 am

The retail industry is undergoing a major transformation as e-commerce disrupts traditional brick-and-mortar store models and gives rise to new modes of “experiential retail.” The experiential retail trend is being driven by a number of factors, including the increasing popularity of e-commerce, the decline in traditional department store traffic, and the proliferation of mobile devices.…

Retailers Struggle to Effectively Utilize In-Store Mobility
January 18, 2018 at 10:18 am

The last several years have been transformative for the retail industry, as new technology moved into the brick-and-mortar space by way of mobile devices in the hands of associates and managers. Harnessing the power these mobile devices provide is indeed exciting, as they help deliver personalized customer experiences and offer in-store encounters between customers and…

5 Questions That Can Improve Your In-Store Experience
January 10, 2018 at 11:13 am

Ask and you shall (usually) receive. According to research from Accenture, 35 percent of millennials and 40 percent of Gen Zs say they often or very often provide retailers with direct feedback when prompted. Make the most of this opportunity, especially with the younger part of your customer base, by gathering valuable insights whenever possible. The…

Employee Learning Technology Helping Bloomingdale's Save Money
January 8, 2018 at 12:24 pm

In episode 125 of Total Retail Talks, Chad McIntosh, vice president of asset protection and risk management at Bloomingdale's, shares how the upscale department store chain is using gamified learning technology to help store employees minimize safety incidents and theft, saving it millions in the process.