Instacart has laid off 250 employees in a move to “reshape” the newly public company, as it looks to “focus on our most promising initiatives and execute more efficiently to a flatter organization,” said CEO Fidji Simo on a call detailing the grocery tech company’s Q4 and full year 2023 results. Simo also shared that…
Staples will install autonomous item-handling robots in its fulfillment centers as part of a multi-year agreement with RightHand Robotics. The solution provider’s RightPick system is powered by advanced hardware, a sensor suite and RightPick AI software designed for a wide range of warehouse tasks. “We have always valued automation, and we see it as the…
It’s been more than four years since mall operator Simon launched its ecommerce joint venture with Rue Gilt Groupe, and the Shop Premium Outlets (SPO) marketplace is going strong. The site, aimed at bringing off-price inventory from Simon’s malls online, now features more than 300 brands and as of last September, sales were up 100% year over…
All eyes in the retail world are on opportunities in commerce media right now — and rightfully so, given that the already-massive spend in this channel is expected to double again by 2027. But as the gold rush gains momentum, it would behoove small and mid-size retailers to remember that not everyone is running the…
Citing its actions following previous corporate mergers, Kroger said it plans to lower prices when its planned merger with Albertsons is finalized. The supermarket giant will invest $500 million to lower prices on “day one” following the transaction’s close, and also plans to invest $1.3 billion to improve Albertsons’ brick-and-mortar stores. The Kroger-Albertsons merger was…
Following a 15-store pilot project that kicked off in May 2023, SpartanNash has deployed Tally, an autonomous inventory robot, in 60 more company-operated stores across the Midwest. The retailer operates 144 supermarkets, mostly under the Family Fare, Martin’s Super Markets and D&W Fresh Market banners. The robots from Simbe support the solution provider’s Store Intelligence…
The UK arm of the The Body Shop has entered administration, the British version of bankruptcy protection, according to Reuters and other media reports, but it will continue to operate online and via its 199 UK brick-and-mortar stores for the time being. Private equity firm Aurelius Group purchased the retailer from Natura &Co in November…
After years of decline, ContextLogic has sold its discount shopping app Wish for approximately $173 million in cash to Qoo10, an ecommerce platform that operates localized online marketplaces throughout Asia. Qoo10 is headquartered in Singapore and operates marketplaces in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, mainland China and Hong Kong. In 2018 its Japanese marketplace was spun off and…
Improving search functionality and response speed can be among the most powerful “behind the scenes” actions a retailer can take — particularly if they’re essentially a pureplay operation. Zenni Optical’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO) David Ting discovered just how powerful amping up the site’s search capabilities could be after the retailer deployed the Algolia solution…
Sally Beauty and The Black Hair Experience have partnered for two experiential event pop-ups designed to braid together students from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) with Black and female-founded beauty brands. The Rooted in Success program’s first pop-up will be in Atlanta on Feb. 24, 2024, followed by a Washington, D.C. pop-up on March…
