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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Cut TCO by 15% on barcode devices

Retailers have relied on rugged handheld devices for over 30 years to boost efficiency and productivity. All along, devices have suffered from failures due to charging contacts that get dirty, corrode, or break. Wireless charging prevents device failure, drastically reducing TCO. An enterprise can easily reduce TCO by 15% or more deploying wireless charging devices.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

Relationships included with every shopper interaction.

Your biggest successes are still ahead. But to get there, you’ll need to include something extra in every transaction: an awesome relationship. That’s where Salesforce has your back. It’s the world’s #1 engagement platform, helping you connect to your shoppers in a whole new way.

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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.

Retail Deals

Vixxo, a facilities management leader and innovator, has announced an agreement to provide facilities management services to extreme value retailer 99 Cents Only Stores.

JDA Software Inc. continues to address the challenges retailers face with a workforce that demands more agility and autonomy by employing new capabilities in JDA^® Workforce Management including integration with Microsoft Teams allowing managers and coworkers to easily connect and collaborate through a unified platform via desktop or mobile.

Inter Parfums Inc. has announced that its majority-owned, Paris-based subsidiary, Interparfums SA, has entered into an 11-year exclusive worldwide fragrance license agreement with Kate Spade New York to create, produce and distribute new perfumes and fragrance-related products.

Mastercard has launched the Mastercard Digital Wellness program, a host of technologies and resources that enable all businesses, especially small and independent merchants, to better serve today’s digital-first consumer by making password-free, online checkouts more secure for cardholders.

Global apparel retailer Gap Inc. has announced a new partnership with its longtime sourcing and franchise partner in India, Arvind Limited, to drive industry-leading solutions that address global water scarcity.

A new augmented reality shopping app, developed by Mountain Hardwear under parent company Columbia Sportswear Company, is designed to alleviate obstacles its shoppers often face: limited time to visit retail stores, difficulty of in-store setup and store availability.