Stores Weekly

First Edition

Resolving freight challenges through technology

Some people simply expand on the family business. Others apply insights and lessons learned to solve age-old challenges in new ways. But if they’re truly fortunate — like Transfix CEO and co-founder Drew McElroy — they garner tens of millions of dollars in venture funding from those who understand how revolutionary the new system is and help move it down the road.

Visit https://stores.org/2019/06/10/what-trucker-shortage/?utm_medium=STORES%20Weekly&utm_source=Email&utm_campaign=STORES%20May-June%20&utm_content=freight%20tech to view the full article online.

Data-driven tech company helps retailers find and target the next big consumer market

The best-selling book “Crazy Rich Asians,” which begat the 2018 hit film, has nudged retailers to laser-focus on engaging with young, luxury-loving Asian and Asian American consumers. The demographic is not only driving luxury consumption in Asia, but globally — and because they spend so much time on digital media, that is where retailers must go to find them.

Visit https://stores.org/2019/06/10/the-future-of-marketing/?utm_medium=STORES%20Weekly&utm_source=Email&utm_campaign=STORES%20May-June%20&utm_content=Q&A to view the full article online.

Convenience store chain finds rapid ROI with camera system

Sprint Food Stores recently invested in an advanced video surveillance system from i3 International that captured images so clear that, when installed outside one store, the license plate and company name on a truck that sheared the roof off a Sprint Food storage shed were clearly visible.

Visit https://stores.org/2019/06/10/crystal-clear/?utm_medium=STORES%20Weekly&utm_source=Email&utm_campaign=STORES%20May-June%20&utm_content=LP%20Sprint%20Food to view the full article online.

The digital edition of STORES includes must-read pieces, including the articles featured here. Read the current issue and browse the archives for issues you may have missed.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/nrf-nwl/articles/index.asp?aid=565467&issueID=64458 to view the full article online.

Fighting the last-mile battle

Retailers have found it hard to compete with Amazon’s delivery promises. But there are plenty of reasons to try: A study by Zebra Technologies Corporation last year found that 78 percent of logistics companies expect same-day delivery by 2023 and 40 percent anticipate two-hour delivery by 2028. The big players are trying — FedEx has launched a self-driving delivery robot. But newcomers are significant players in rapid delivery, and the grocery industry’s experience provides a bit of a roadmap.

Visit https://stores.org/2019/06/11/going-the-distance/?utm_medium=STORES%20Weekly&utm_source=Email&utm_campaign=STORES%20May-June%20&utm_content=last to view the full article online.

Surveillance system uses crowdsourcing to identify retail criminals

All retailers, even those with very good surveillance cameras, know how difficult it is to find the criminals who plunder their stores. Now more than 20,000 stores — large national chains and small independent retailers — are changing the dynamic, with the help of a system that creates both a real risk and a deterrence for criminals.

Visit https://stores.org/2019/06/11/tapping-into-people-power/?utm_medium=STORES%20Weekly&utm_source=Email&utm_campaign=STORES%20May-June%20&utm_content=surveillance to view the full article online.

NRF is proud to provide our members with the online Retail Buying Guide to search for trusted vendors, products and services in the retail industry. Our guide is a user-friendly forum designed to bring suppliers and purchasers together. You can search by keyword, location, company name or category. Available whenever you need it, the Retail Buying Guide makes it easy to locate products and professional services geared to the retail industry. Click here to visit the online Retail Buying Guide! To advertise, please contact Sarah Allen for more information.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/nrf-nwl/articles/index.asp?aid=565468&issueID=64458 to view the full article online.

Trends

Tokyo discovers an entirely new way to connect over coffee

It’s one thing to provide work for those with disabilities, spinal cord injuries and challenges such as ALS. It’s another to enable them to operate robot waiters in a café at another location, wirelessly transmitting audio and video. But that’s exactly what’s been happening at a Tokyo eatery.

Visit https://stores.org/2019/06/12/tokyo-discovers-an-entirely-new-way-to-connect-over-coffee/ to view the full article online.

App finds last-minute deals for fresh meals

Consider it a money and waste-saver in hand. Hy-Vee is working to reduce food waste — all the while delighting shoppers — with an app that enables them to find and buy food items nearing expiration date at significantly reduced prices.

Visit https://stores.org/2019/06/12/app-finds-last-minute-deals-for-fresh-meals/ to view the full article online.

NRF News

The Rothy’s formula for success

Shoe brand Rothy's brings together things consumers don't find everyday — shoes that are comfortable, stylish and made sustainably from recycled plastic. That winning combination has earned the company an avid fan base that's growing quickly. VP of Marketing Elie Donahue talks about how to attract fans and where the brand is headed.

Visit https://nrf.com/blog/rothys-formula-success?utm_medium=STORES%20Weekly&utm_source=Email&utm_campaign=Retail%20Gets%20Real&utm_content=Ep%20122%20Rothy's to view the full article online.

LP survey addresses overlap with cyber

The annual National Retail Security Survey provides insights about internal and external retail crime and helps retailers take note of incremental and significant changes within loss prevention. Key findings include what LP leaders will focus on and the impact of shrinkage.

Visit https://nrf.com/research/national-retail-security-survey-2019?utm_medium=STORES%20Weekly&utm_source=Email&utm_campaign=NRSS&utm_content=Landing%20page to view the full article online.

3 traits of transformative CIOs

Today a CIO is a critical member of a retailer’s executive team, responsible for driving strategy and outcomes — and being accountable for them. At NRFtech in San Francisco last month, CIOs from Couche-Tard — Circle K, Gap and REI talked about making IT part of strategic conversations and influencing and contributing to corporate strategy.

Visit https://nrf.com/blog/3-traits-transformative-cios?utm_medium=STORES%20Weekly&utm_source=Email&utm_campaign=NRFtech&utm_content=CIO%20change%20agent to view the full article online.

National Retail Federation