The retail technology week in numbers
$1 billion…Walmart is projecting losses of more than $1 billion for its US e-commerce division this year, on revenue of between $21 billion and $22 billion.
206…Sainsbury’s upgraded 29 more Argos stores to self-service digital formats in the first quarter of 2019, with 206 now offering its Pay@Browse technology.
€12 million…Logistics startup Cubyn has closed a €12 million round led by DN Capital and also including Partech Ventures, 360 Capital Partners, BNP Paribas Developpement and BPI France.
$1.2 billion…Walmart is set to invest $1.2 billion to upgrade logistics in China.
£916 million…Online retailer The Hut Group says that strategic investments, to develop its technology, infrastructure, brands and people, delivered “exceptional global growth” last year. Group sales were up 24% to £916 million for the year ended 31st December 2018. International sales constituted 66% of that. Gross profit, meanwhile, increased by 31% to £417 million.
£400,000…MarketOrders, which taps blockchain tech to make the jewellery buying process more transparent, has exceeded a £400,000 crowdfunding target.
$4 million…Mercato, a US-based online ordering and delivery platform for independent grocery stores, has closed a $4 million funding round led by VC firm Greycroft.
$6.7 billion…Amazon’s Prime Day will set new records this year, bringing in around $6.7 billion, according to ParcelHero.
3…Independent homewares marketplace, Trouva, has debuted at number three on the Startups 100 2019 Index, lining up alongside the likes of FinTech big hitter Revolut. It is the only retail entry in this year’s top ten.
1,500…Amazon has announced the US debut of Counter, which enables the e-commerce giant’s customers to pick up orders via a network of partner retailers.
This first launched in the UK with Next and in Italy with Giunti Al Punto Librerie, Fermopoint and SisalPay stores. It has now gone live in more than 100 Rite Aid stores in the US. By the end of the year, the service will be available across 1,500 of the retailer’s locations.
58%…US crypto exchange Coinbase has released a report looking at "the growing interest in cryptocurrencies on the part of Americans, on a state-by-state level". The research, which involved 2,000 participants, found that 58% of Americans have heard of Bitcoin.
3,736...Crypterium, which is headed up by former Visa executive Steven Parker, says that it has shipped 3,736 of its crypto debit card in the first week since launch.
$1 billion…StockX has joined the unicorn club after a $110 million funding round puts it valuation at over $1 billion.
5...SIA has inked a five-year agreement with Greek retailer Market In to provide new payment technology infrastructure and to manage the processing of card transactions.