Eye-on-Retail Tipsheet 3/26/13: Retail’s New Industrial Revolution; Pinterest & Pingage
“Retail’s New Industrial Revolution” by Doug Stephens at Retail Prophet. “Soon there won’t be any cashiers – and not just cashiers – greeters, merchandisers, inventory counters and store cleaners too. Technology is poised to replace all of them for two reasons. First, because it can. And second because it must. Digital, mobile, virtual and robotic technologies are quickly progressing to the point where they now pose a legitimate threat to anyone whose work is largely repetitive and non-dynamic in nature. And because retailers are increasingly challenged in growing top-line revenue, there’s little alternative but to substantially slash operating costs – and people are the easy place to start…It’s a new industrial revolution and the era of the clerk is over. The age of the Brand Ambassador has just begun.” Read more: https://www.retailprophet.com/blog/retails-new-industrial-revolution/
“Cincinatti Startup Pingage Signs With P&G to Bring Business to Pinterest” by Jack Neff at Ad Age. “Pinterest hit 10 million unique monthly visitors last year faster than any website ever and now tops 30 million, per comScore. Yet many big brands still have no presence there, and even ones that do, such as Walmart and L’Oreal’s Maybelline, attract only low-five-figure followings. Sensing a void, Cincinnati-based start-up Pingage hopes to become to Pinterest what Buddy Media was to Facebook — offering marketers a simple way to manage content and build followings. Thanks to a demo day in January at Procter & Gamble Co. arranged by the Brandery seed-stage accelerator, the startup recently signed two P&G brands for pilot projects to do just that.” Read more: https://adage.com/article/startup-watch/pingage-buddy-media-pinterest-p-g-a-client/240513/
“CVS/pharmacy Launches Innovative New iPad App Featuring a 3D Virtual Store and Digital Pharmacy Experience” “CVS/pharmacy today launched a first-of-its-kind interactive app, delivering a unique digital drugstore experience for customers using Apple iPads. With the new CVS iPad app customers can explore a virtual 3D CVS/pharmacy and quickly access services from the Pharmacy, ExtraCare, Photo Center and MinuteClinic, as well as browse their favorite departments to shop.” Read more: https://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?resourceid=6540834&access=EH
“Wal-Mart: Adapting To The New Consumer Market” at Seeking Alpha. “In the US market, it seems that Wal-Mart is reaching saturation point for opening new stores. If the new stores are not opened strategically, the stores may end up generating revenues by attracting customers from other Wal-Mart stores. The company will do well to strategically re-organize the current stores before thinking on expanding on a large scale any further within the US…Wal-Mart’s revenue is more than double the combined revenue of Costco and Target.” Read more: https://seekingalpha.com/article/1298161-wal-mart-adapting-to-the-new-consumer-market?source=google_news
“Family Dollar Names Scott T. Zucker Senior Vice President – Merchandise Operations” “Mr. Zucker will be responsible for driving the strategy and execution of merchandise initiatives, category management, merchandise planning and replenishment. In his new role, he will report to Michael Bloom, President and Chief Operating Officer.” Read more: https://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsLang=en&newsId=20130325005339&div=-1245645151
“100+ employees laid off because of BI-LO and Winn-Dixie merger” at WYFF (South Carolina). “In March, BI-LO announced its merger with Winn-Dixie Stores. The company will be headquartered in Jacksonville, which is centrally located within its eight-state operating area. BI-LO is currently based in Mauldin. Wright said approximately 130 associates will be laid off.” Read more: https://www.wyff4.com/news/local-news/greenville-news/100-employees-laid-off-because-of-BI-LO-and-Winn-Dixie-merger/-/9654794/19458696/-/jt7uhl/-/index.html
“Customers Flee Wal-Mart Empty Shelves for Target, Costco” by Renee Dudley at Bloomberg. “Margaret Hancock has long considered the local Wal-Mart Stores Inc. superstore her one- stop shopping destination. No longer. During recent visits, the retired accountant from Newark, Delaware, says she failed to find more than a dozen basic items, including certain types of face cream, cold medicine, bandages, mouthwash, hangers, lamps and fabrics. The cosmetics section “looked like someone raided it,” said Hancock, 63. Wal-Mart’s loss was a gain for Kohl’s Corp. Safeway Inc., Target Corp. and Walgreen Co. — the chains Hancock hit for the items she couldn’t find at Wal-Mart.” Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-26/customers-flee-wal-mart-empty-shelves-for-target-costco.html
“Walmart Sues Grocery Workers Union, Others Who Have Protested At Florida Stores” at HuffPo via Reuters. “The lawsuit filed on Friday in Orange County, Florida state court seeks “to help protect our customers and associates from further disruptive tactics associated with their continued, illegal trespassing,” Walmart spokesman Dan Fogleman said. Defendants, however, charged that the world’s biggest retailer is trying to muzzle its critics. “This is another attempt on Wal-Mart’s behalf of … silencing their employees and also the communities that support them,” Denise Diaz, executive director of Central Florida Jobs With Justice Corp and a defendant named in the suit, said before reviewing the documents.” Read more: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/25/walmart-sues-protesters-florida-stores_n_2950992.html
“Google Universal Analytics Now Open to Everyone” by Thom Craver at Search Engine Watch. “Directly from their announcement, Google describes the following benefits to using Universal Analytics: 1) Understanding how customers interact with your businesses across many devices and touch-points. 2) Insights into the performance of your mobile apps. 3) Improvements of lead generation and ROI by incorporating offline and online interactions so you can understand which channels drive the best results. 4) Improved latency on your site by reducing client-side demands.” Read more: https://searchenginewatch.com/article/2257342/Google-Universal-Analytics-Now-Open-to-Everyone
“Food Lion Names Charles Inman 2012 Store Manager of the Year” “In addition to Inman being selected as Food Lion’s Store Manager of the year, 11 other leaders were also recognized for exceptional leadership. The regional and division winners include…” Read more: https://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?resourceid=6540194&access=EH
Thanks for reading…
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