Five retail tech things we learned last week
RTIH takes a not always serious look back at another eventful week for the retail technology space.
1. It ain’t easy being woke
Sainsbury’s recently got itself into a whole heap of trouble with the following tweet.
The whole ‘hey, we’re an inclusive retailer, just deal with it’ message is fraught with problems and risks.
For instance, it was pointed out on Twitter that the Sainsbury’s board of directors is largely white
Whilst Private Eye noted that more than a fifth of the grocery giant is controlled by Qatar, the gulf state accused by a UN report in July of practising “structural racial discrimination” through a “de facto caste system based on national origin”, under which Europeans, North Americans, Australians and Arabs “systematically enjoy greater human rights protections than South Asian and sub-Saharan African nationalities”.
File under ‘super cringe’.
2. We’re data driven. Oh no you’re not!
Too many retailers are using terms like data culture as nothing more than a slogan in their business, and unless they change their position quickly, they will lose more and more ground in the digital transformation race.
So says Clekt Chairman Alan Morris in a rather excellent comment piece published last week on RTIH. Check it out here.
3. There ain’t no party like an Aldi party
Aldi UK celebrated its 30th birthday on Twitter last week. And it was epic.
4. Professor Green has some French in him
Rapper Professor Green is not of Scottish or Scandi decent as he thought, but in fact French (35%), Northwest Germanic (20%) and Irish (12%). You can thank UK-based recipe box venture, Gousto, for this bombshell.
5. These days adidas is all about combining creativity and sustainability with commerce
adidas has opened the doors to a new Originals flagship store on London’s Carnaby Street.
This features art installations created by local designers and artists, including Paolina Russo, Bethany Williams and Melissa Kitty Jaram and God’s Own Junkyard. The space also offers a SPEZIAL pool table and Pioneer DJ equipment set up for shoppers to use.
Chis Walsh, VP Brand adidas, North Europe, said: “The new adidas Originals flagship is one of the best expressions of our brand, combining creativity and sustainability with commerce.”
“The store will become the destination for the most in demand adidas Originals products in London, and we look forward to joining the Carnaby neighbourhood in welcoming our consumers and community.”
Does anyone else miss the days when retailers and brands just sold stuff?
