For Starbucks, digital is paying off. On July 23, the retailer reported their Q3 results and 39-week fiscal year to date. Starbucks' year over year increased nearly 18 million in the United States, and the Q3 is one of the “strongest and most remarkable quarters in over 23 years,” according to Howard Schultz, Starbucks Chairman and CEO. Schultz credits their success to expanding beyond digital advertising, and instead having a focus on digital technologies, such as Mobile Order & Pay, as the shift of brick and mortar to digital continues.
The wait may finally be over for the retail industry's response to Apple Pay. Known as CurrentC, the mobile payment app is reported to be tested this August in a limited trial run, according to Bloomberg. Employees of the retailers have reportedly tested the app, and CurrentC is now moving into its next stage. CurrentC has been nearly three years in the making, and was created by Merchant Customer Exchange (MCX), a group founded by some of the nation's biggest retailers, including Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and CVS.
Synchrony Financial, a consumer financial services company, recently announced the results of their 2015 Digital Study, which was focused on how consumers view mobile shopping. The final data shows retailers need to focus on mobile optimization for improved engagement and positive customer experiences. Nearly 7,000 Synchrony Bank cardholders and randomly-chosen shoppers throughout the country were questioned about their view of mobile shopping, what they expect from the experience, and how they currently use mobile devices in the purchase decisions.
School may not be in session just yet, but many consumers are already preparing to stock up for the upcoming school year. In the pursuit of parents' dollars, omni-channel retailing is proving a hot strategy this school year as JCPenney and WallFlower Jeans launch their respective omni-channel experiences to connect to consumers, and back-to-school shoppers share their plans for retail in a new National Retail Federation survey.
The “Internet of Things,” the quest to connect everything in the home on a network, has been discussed by retail experts as the coming revolution. Recent moves by retailers have put the Internet of Things quest to the test, as stores begin setting up demonstrations of how these devices can function in a consumer's daily life. Sears first launched their entry into this space in 2014, with their Connected Home Shops, and Target is now the newest retailer to bring a connected home space to the consumer.
Blackhawk Engagement Solutions, a research firm that studies consumer engagement for retailers and marketers, has released the results of their annual survey on shopping behavior. Where It's At: Consumer Shopping Behavior charts how customers are shopping, and the use of connected technologies on the path of browsing to purchase. The survey questioned more than 2,608 respondents on their current shopping behavior, from pre-shop to determining what to buy, in a bid to see how retailers and marketers can simplify the purchase process.
Books and media retailer Barnes & Noble, Inc has named a new Chief Executive Officer of the Retail and NOOK® unit businesses and is moving more towards regaining their once-firm hold in the retail market. The new CEO, Ronald D. Boire, comes from Sears Canada, where he is President and CEO, and a member of Sears Canada's Board of Directors. Boire's new position is effective September 8, 2015, per Barnes & Noble, Inc's press release.
Kroger is in the middle of plans to expand its ClickList online ordering to an anticipated 1,200 stores nationwide, with 60 planned this year. The news came exclusively via an article from Cincinnati's WCPO Channel 9 News, who reported on the supermarket retailer's plans for the service. At least 60 Kroger stores will receive ClickList ordering capabilities in 2015, the news channel reports.
American Eagle, the teen clothing retailer, is planning a revamp of their website to make it easier for teens to shop easier online on mobile devices, and also recently released a new version of their mobile app, AEO/ AERIE.
The 24th annual National Retail Secury Survey (NRSS) administered by the National Retail Federation (NRF) shows retail and security providers exactly how much shrink affected retailers in 2014. The national study looks at a variety of topics including employee integrity, inventory shrink and other concerns.
