In a strategic move to redefine the retail experience, Esselunga, a leading Italian supermarket chain, has launched its advanced Retail Lab. This initiative highlights the cutting-edge possibilities at the intersection of AI technology and retail operations. The Retail Lab is designed as a testing ground for innovative retail technologies that promise to streamline operations and enhance customer service. A major focus of the lab is to integrate and adapt AI-driven solutions to real-world retail environments, with Diebold Nixdorf taking a pivotal role in this transformation. By leveraging AI ..read more

Shoptalk Las Vegas, one of the most anticipated events in the retail industry, recently concluded. From March 17th to 20th, Shoptalk brought together 10,000 senior leaders from retailers and brands across 48 countries and included 900 sponsors and exhibitors.   From AI-powered customer insights to futuristic messaging platforms, Shoptalk offers a glimpse into innovations that are shaping the future of shopping. In this fast-paced world of retail, it’s the place to see and be seen, where innovation reigns supreme and the future of shopping is born.  This year, RETHINK Retail took to ..read more

Following a tremendously successful AiR Conference in New York City, RETHINK Retail continued the conversation at Shoptalk Las Vegas with AI in Retail (AiR) Spotlight Sessions. This presented an invaluable opportunity to demonstrate to the retail sector how Generative AI (GenAI) advancements present new opportunities and applications to fuel operational optimization, impacting areas like inventory precision, research & development, customer experience, contact centers, and more.  AiR Spotlight Sessions at Shoptalk were led by Microsoft and partners who are pioneering the application ..read more

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. is one of the most recognizable retail brands in the world, with 450 store locations throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe. Recently, the company announced the successful deployment of its cloud-native, mobile-first Point of Sale (POS) and CX Connect interactive customer engagement solution to enrich end-to-end in-store experiences in its retail stores worldwide. It is a brand that has made a big impression on several generations. Starting in 1997 with a location in the Saint Louis Galleria Mall, the brand received a $5,000,000 investment for expansion from Walnu ..read more

Changing the Narrative: Transforming Product Returns Into a Growth Opportunity Product returns are a core part of the customer journey. The digital and physical shopping experience boundaries are a thing of the past. Customers are seamlessly navigating from discovery to consideration and the transaction process and have the product fulfilled in the most convenient way, including BOPIS, curbside pickup, and shipping to the home. The overall ecommerce sales were $1.1 trillion in 2023, an increase of 7.6% (+1.2%) from 2022’s 14.7% of total sales, which directly translates to customers returning ..read more

In the ever-evolving landscape of online retail, one newcomer is generating considerable buzz – Temu. With its rapid ascent in the US e-commerce market, Temu has caught the attention of both consumers and industry analysts alike. Surprisingly, despite being a relatively new player, Temu boasts an impressive 74% awareness among US consumers, positioning itself as a serious contender in the highly competitive arena dominated by giants like Amazon, Walmart, and Target. Based on a representative survey from market research agency Appino and Spryker, 40% of Americans have purchased something from ..read more

If any theme could be gleaned from this year’s premier retail industry event, NRF 2024, it was that artificial intelligence is a driving force in retail innovation that will help define broader trends moving forward. Specifically, the message was that retailers need to sort out what exactly to do with it all—particularly now that they’re faced with a rapidly growing range of solutions. That requires a careful understanding of one’s goals, including what AI is currently equipped to do for retailers (and what it isn’t). Understanding your goals often begins with understanding your problems. Fo ..read more

Another year has come and gone for ‘Retail’s Big Show;’ this year focused on themes from innovative store layouts to improved associate experiences to, of course, AI. Over 1000 displays at this year’s event showed off a wide range of solutions, including color-coded vignettes for thematic brand experiences, various intriguing mock store model demonstrations, or the myriad uses of generative AI in the modern retail context. The event was as energetic as any year prior despite the challenges faced by the industry (and not just because of the endless coffee bars). The focus on innovation was a t ..read more

For those privileged to attend the National Retail Federation 2024 Big Show, it was clear that there is a renewed sense of optimism and hope with both a positive 2024 global economic outlook and one of the largest gatherings at the NRF. Despite the macroeconomic and geopolitical headwinds throughout 2023, the US market avoided a recession and has grown steadily. Unemployment remains low, and most significantly, the inflation rate is falling globally. The retail industry remains as resilient as ever, with a slowdown in inflation, which will support retail volume growth by 6.7% i ..read more

The National Retail Federation’s Big Show 2024 marked yet another year of remarkable conversations, technological advancements and industry milestones. The annual event once again took center stage on the global retail calendar, setting the tone for what the industry can expect in the year ahead. Under the banner of “Make it Matter,” this year’s Big Show lived up to its well-deserved reputation as one of the most influential and highly anticipated gatherings in the world of retail, and left attendees with no doubt of what will and won’t matter in the year to come.  Here are the key takea ..read more