Consumers are cutting out the middleman, and it’s looking more like the middleman is Walmart. Online sales rose about 15% last year, according to the U.S. Commerce department. The total haul was around $400 billion, or 8% of all retail sales for the year. When I worked in IT at a large consumer electronics retailer, we used to say that online sales were infinitesimal -- … [Read more...] about Why the Amazon Dash Wand could bring down big box retailers
Boxed retail
Apple discontinues boxed retail software in favor of Mac App Store
Makers of unboxing videos will be sad to learn that Apple has discontinued a number of boxed software products sold in its retail stores, indicating the company’s desire for users to purchase items from the online Mac App Store in future.An Apple Insider report says that discontinued products (in cardboard container form) include iWork ’09, Aperture 3, iLife … [Read more...] about Apple discontinues boxed retail software in favor of Mac App Store
Walmart Pay gives retailer strategic advantage, building off existing app
Walmart jumped out Thursday with a natively built in-store mobile payment technology that works with any iOS or Android phone and any major credit or debit card.Walmart Pay works at a store's checkout by scanning a QR code on a Walmart smartphone app. The app is already used by 22 million Walmart customers each month for online shopping, including finding discounts and making … [Read more...] about Walmart Pay gives retailer strategic advantage, building off existing app
Phishing spam gets ‘Big Box Retailer’ holiday makeover
Spam phishing emails have been updated for the holidays, with new themed emails pretending to update users on their order status from Costco, Target, Walmart, Walgreens, and Home Depot."We're rolling in to the holiday season, purchasing things online, and getting an email from a larger retailer wouldn't be out of the ordinary," said Rich Barger, chief intelligence officer and … [Read more...] about Phishing spam gets ‘Big Box Retailer’ holiday makeover
Swarm ‘Portal’ Beacon to Provide Retailers Insight on In-store Activity
For small retailers, the relationship between the number of store visits and actual sales can be foggy. A new tracking device aims to provide clarity.On Thursday the in-store data startup Swarm launched "Portal," a small device that brick-and-mortar stores can install at their entrance to track how many people actually set foot inside. The device constitutes another piece of … [Read more...] about Swarm ‘Portal’ Beacon to Provide Retailers Insight on In-store Activity
Retailers did Windows 8 no favors
Retailers share part of the blame for poor Windows 8 sales and the ensuing decline of PC shipments, analysts contended today.Microsoft's radical overhaul of Windows has been cited by some to explain plummeting PC shipments, but the very organizations whose best interest is served in selling those systems were at least partly at fault. [ Windows RT: Who loves ya, baby? | … [Read more...] about Retailers did Windows 8 no favors
Sony Closing 20 Retail Stores, Cutting 1,000 Jobs In US
Sony is closing 20 of its 31 US retail stores according to the company, and laying off 1,000 workers. Get In Stock Alerts on Twitter for SNES Classic, Switch and More The job cuts are part of a broader strategy to cut 5,000 jobs globally, spin off the struggling TV division, and get out of the PC business altogether.“While these moves were extremely tough, they were … [Read more...] about Sony Closing 20 Retail Stores, Cutting 1,000 Jobs In US
Do Big-Box Stores Help Create Hate Groups? Study Says Yes
While big-box retailers might offer the lowest prices, they also may be altering a community's social and economic fabric enough to promote the creation of hate groups, new research shows. According to the study by professors at Penn State University, New Mexico State University and Michigan State University, the number of Wal-Mart stores in a county correlates significantly … [Read more...] about Do Big-Box Stores Help Create Hate Groups? Study Says Yes
Big Box Retailers Won’t Kill Small Business Holiday Profits
Good news, small business owners: Despite the tempting holiday price cuts and super sales pulling customers into big box retail stores, you might still come out ahead this season. Through Web.com's second annual Consumer and Small Business Perception Survey, Business News Daily found that consumers are in fact willing to pay a higher price if it means supporting a small … [Read more...] about Big Box Retailers Won’t Kill Small Business Holiday Profits
4 Small Business Myths That Are Sending Your Customers to Big-Box Stores
Although the holiday shopping season is drawing to a close, many consumers are busier than ever, scrambling to buy last-minute gifts and hunting in stores for year-end discounts. Because of the convenience and ubiquity of big-box retailers, it should come as no surprise that these chain stores are usually the ones profiting from late-season holiday purchases. While small … [Read more...] about 4 Small Business Myths That Are Sending Your Customers to Big-Box Stores