Technology

In the short time since its release in early July, the Pokémon Go app has gotten millions of players outside and moving. Worldwide, users are flocking to locations, or Pokéstops, where the pocket demons dwell — which could be inside your store. Brick-and-mortar stores, restaurants and other businesses that opt to pay the Pokémon franchise…

The pace of business is accelerating. In 1860, the first westbound pony express trip left St. Joseph, Missouri for San Francisco and arrived 10 days later. Quite a feat, but this morning my email inbox filled faster than I could open messages. Or, even if the pace of business remains relatively steady, certainly the pace…

It’s a whole new retail game out there. Digital disrupters — i.e., companies and/or people with digital models that disrupt a profitable, even booming, industry such as retail — are the new normal. These companies generally make the same products and offer the same services as the companies they’re disrupting, but make them readily available…

Welcome to a roundup of Total Retail Talks episodes! Total Retail Talks is Total Retail’s podcast channel, and it features interviews and insights from some of the leading minds in the retail industry. Check out our podcast channel page to learn more about all things happening in retail. Also, you can access Total Retail Talks’ episodes on iTunes…

If you happen to be in Palo Alto, Calif. this week, check out the small consumer electronics store B8ta. Why? You'll be able to get a glimpse of retailing's possible future via Pepper, a robot from SoftBank Robotics. The robot greets visitors when they enter the store and can answer specific questions about particular products. It also…

Procter & Gamble has concluded that using Facebook ads to target specific consumers has limited effectiveness. The biggest advertising spender in the world will now move away from targeted Facebook ads. Facebook has spent years developing its ability to zero in on consumers based on demographics, shopping habits and life milestones, but P&G Chief Marketing Officer…

Pokémon Go. It’s so big right now it has its own meme catalog (it’s about 50 percent NSFW, so I’ll eschew the direct link, but please feel free to do some searches on your own), it’s sparked tens of thousands of social interactions and even if you don’t love it and spend time joking about…

Rising interest in advanced retail technology is evolving the day-to-day role of in-store employees with every new available device. For example, automated assistants, such as the Lowe’s or SoftBank robots, can help consumers find specific products, offer customized promotions, provide inventory updates and ensure secure payments more efficiently than most human associates. Innovative technology can…

The number of changes hitting the retail industry are piling up like mohair sweaters on a sales rack in July. For the retail executive, just keeping up with the latest technology shakeout or millennial shopping shift can make the usual challenges of logistics, buying strategies and mobile sales promotion seem like a proverbial walk in…

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