Generation Z has the potential to shape the future of shopping as retailers attempt to deliver the things they value — entrepreneurship, uniqueness, personalization and mutual respect between associates and customers, to start.

One in six respondents to the most recent NRF Loss Prevention Survey felt the level of aggression was “much higher than the previous year.” The proper training goes a long way in defusing potentially violent situations; a program designed to meet the specific needs of retailers is scheduled to launch at NRF’s PROTECT conference later this month.

A commitment to customer service and “the human side of the business” helps Florida-based Pinch-A-Penny maintain an “open dialogue” with franchisees, says president John Thomas, and “challenge each other to get better."

Add the basic shower cap to the list of disrupted products: SHHHOWERCAP incorporates nanotechnology that allows water to bead up and slide off the cap, along with distinctive designs. It also comes with a $43 price tag.

CloudPets stuffed animals’ cloud-based technology allows someone using the related app to upload a message. Once approved by a parent, the message is delivered with a squeeze of the CloudPet’s paw.

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.

Purple, TechStyle Fashion Group, Wayfair, Soko Glam, Dolls Kill, GOOP, Minted, Staples, Dormify, Sam’s Club and theSkimm are just some of the brands presenting at Shop.org, to be held September 25-27, 2017, in Los Angeles. Shop.org is the e-commerce conference for those who want to stand out and stay relevant in today’s retail environment.

For most people, ice cream is an edible treat. For Victoria Lai, it’s a passion and a business. On this week’s episode of Retail Gets Real, NRF’s new podcast, the owner and founder of Ice Cream Jubilee shares her experiences developing unique flavors and growing her small retail business in Washington, D.C.

Retailers welcomed reports last week that House Republican leaders plan to abandon an attempt to repeal debit card swipe fee reform that has saved retailers and customers more than $40 billion. Repeal of the reform would have allowed banks to set the fees as high as they liked.

U.K. grocer Waitrose has signed a rare five-year deal with point-of-sale marketing specialist Ecrebo to deliver personalized customer engagement by integrating their six-million member loyalty scheme with Ecrebo’s ‘Message at Till’ solution across its 350 stores. 

RevCascade, the e-commerce marketplace automation platform for retailers and brands, announced a new partnership with Global Access, a provider of cross-border e-commerce technology and shipping solutions. The new partnership combines the best marketplace automation with the seamless cross-border logistics and shipping technology to drive international sales for retailers and brands around the world.

Browns Shoes, the leading fashion footwear retailer in Canada, has selected the OrderDynamics OMS to enhance omnichannel capabilities. The new system will help Browns consolidate orders, bringing the right products to key ship-from-store optimized locations. In addition, it will allow Browns to consolidate a customer’s complete order into a single shipment while leveraging in-store inventory to fulfill consumer purchases.

Beyond Meat, a leader in plant-based protein, will expand U.S. distribution of its innovative Beyond Burger into the meat section of Safeway grocery stores.

Dunkin’ Donuts now accepts Masterpass by MasterCard so guests can quickly and easily purchase and reload virtual Dunkin’ Donuts cards on DunkinDonuts.com and the Dunkin’ Mobile App.

First Data Corporation and CardConnect Corp., a technology-oriented commerce solutions provider, have entered into a definitive merger agreement for First Data to acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock of CardConnect for $15.00 per share in cash.