Virtual stores vs gaming platforms: RTIH’s biggest retail technology articles on LinkedIn right now
We’re big fans of LinkedIn and are busy building an amazing community of retail tech enthusiasts on the social media platform. These are the articles that are currently on their radars, including Kingfisher, Creative Force, Shoptalk Europe 2024, Żabka Polska, AiFi, The Dune Group, and OneStock.
Creative Force bags $8.9 million in Series A funding to reshape e-commerce content creation landscape
Creative Force, an end-to-end creative operations workflow platform for e-commerce retailers and brands, has raised $8.9 million in Series A funding from Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO) and Hearst Ventures, the venture capital division of Hearst.
This brings its total funding to $17.9 million.
Creative Force will use the cash to scale its Danish headquarters and new US office in Boston and integrate generative artificial intelligence (AI) into its platform.
Kingfisher introduces Athena to boost testing and learning with AI and machine learning technologies
Group Head of Data Science, Mohsen Ghasempour, discussed how the retailer is harnessing these innovations to improve the customer experience and power growth.
He introduced Athena, an AI orchestration framework which will manage how Kingfisher prompts and interacts with AI language models, as well as other AI tools developed in-house.
This is designed with advanced controls to ensure security and provide protection against sensitive or inappropriate content.
Tom Betts, Group Data Director at Kingfisher, says: “Athena will help us test and learn with these technologies even faster.”
Time is running out to enter the 2023 RTIH Innovation Awards: deadline for submissions Friday, 3rd November
There are just over two weeks left to submit your entries for the 2023 RTIH Innovation Awards, which takes place on Wednesday, 29th November at the Barbican Arts Centre in central London.
The event, sponsored by PMC, FreedomPay, CADS, 3D Cloud by Marxent, Goodays, and Vista Technology Support, celebrates global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.
Spread over 19 different categories, submissions are judged on the extent of innovation and transformation demonstrated, as well as the sustainability of the results. Previous year’s winners have included B&Q, Pets at Home, Walmart, Sook, AiFi, Compass Group, Obsess, and Ribble Cycles.
Deadline for 2023 submissions is Friday, 3rd November.
The awards culminate in a fantastic ceremony, complete with a drinks reception and Christmas themed three-course meal at the Barbican Arts Centre on Wednesday 29th November.
A key event highlight is an exclusive pre-awards roundtable discussion, enabling retailers, tech suppliers and advisors to come together and talk about current retail challenges and opportunities.
Key dates
Friday, 3rd November: Award entry deadline
Tuesday, 7th November: 2023 shortlist revealed
7th-10th November: Judging days
Wednesday, 29th November: Winners announced at the 2023 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony
Categories, along with entry forms, can be found here.
Archive brings Maje Secondhand resale platform to the US, both online and in-store
Maje has introduced an in-house peer-to-peer resale platform, Maje Secondhand, in the USA.
In partnership with Archive, this gives customers the ability to list their preloved Maje pieces alongside past season clothing. Clients can either receive Maje credit to use online, or cash, in return for their archive pieces.
The brand will also sell a curated selection of pre-loved clothing in its flagship store in New York City for a limited period of time as part of the launch.
“We are thrilled to be launching Maje Secondhand in the United States, following the European launch last year,” says Paul Griffin, CEO and President at SMCP North America.
“This comes after the release of Maje Forward, our rental platform, and the Fairly Made global traceability programme. Circular fashion is ingrained in our DNA, and we look forward to Maje Secondhand being a part of our Dream Tomorrow commitment.”
Żabka Polska taps AiFi autonomous technology to boldly go where traditional retail stores can’t go
Żabka Polska has announced new autonomous stores, powered by AiFi technology, at the campus of Medical University of Warsaw, the campus of Warsaw University for Life Sciences, and student dormitories at Basecamp Student.
In a LinkedIn post, Patryk Powierża, Head of Żabka Nano Growth, said: “We truly believe that autonomous stores can bring more convenience to the lives of our customers.”
“Thanks to this autonomous technology we can open our store in locations where traditional stores can’t appear.”
Glenn Faulkner, Solutions Architect at AiFi, said: “Żabka continues to showcase the flexibility and innovation that can be achieved with autonomous stores. Making sure to meet the customer where they are and when they need it.”
Zippin scores a first as it brings checkout-free shopping to those passing through Dublin Airport
A new Dublin Town To Go store, powered by Zippin technology, has opened in T1 Arrivals at Dublin Airport.
People scan their payment card to enter and a combination of cameras and weight sensored shelving then detects what they’re buying and charges their card when they walk out.
The store, the first of its kind to open to the general public in Ireland, sells a range of goods to meet the needs of both departing and arriving passengers and also those waiting to welcome people in Arrivals, including coffee, pastries, sandwiches, salads, sweets, cereal, milk and toiletries.
Mara Hoffman’s The Dress That Changes Everything made using Circ Lyocell from textile waste
Sustainable luxury designer Mara Hoffman has released her first dress design using Circ Lyocell, a filament lyocell derived from 50% recycled textile waste.
Dubbed The Dress that Changes Everything, this collaboration marks the first time Circ Lyocell is being used in the luxury market. Hoffman has also announced her commitment to transitioning from virgin lyocell to Circ Lyocell in her collections over the next three years.
The dress features a note from Hoffman on a special sewn in label created by Circ investor Avery Dennison.
The Digital Care Label, powered by atma.io connected product cloud, is made of cutting scrap from the dress and contains a QR code individuals can scan to learn about the making of the dress, including its waste footprint.
Through the Digital Care Label, Mara Hoffman encourages dress owners to return the garment to the brand's retail store so that it can be sent back to Circ for recycling after its use.
"In 2015, we made a commitment to make sustainability our framework, and part of that journey has been to connect with like-minded people and organisations," says Hoffman.
Retail price comparison engine Genie Shopping brings in Warrick Lambert as Chief Executive Officer
UK retail price comparison engine Genie Shopping has announced its first Chief Executive Officer, performance marketing specialist Warrick Lambert, who is returning to the business after 12 years.
Originally known as Crowdstorm, the business emerged in 2006 as a consumer focused shopping website.
However, in 2017, following a move by Google to open up its platform to shopping aggregators, Genie Shopping switched focus to capitalise on the new opportunities in online retail marketing.
This has included developing its own “shopping campaign management” technology, which helps retailer adverts appear at the top of shopping results searches.
Genie Shopping now sends more than five million customers to retailer websites every month, resulting in over £10 million in sales for partners like Dyson, Dell, Lookfantastic, Waterstones, and Mamas & Papas.
Shoptalk Europe 2024 officially launches with various retail big hitters joining its Advisory Board
Shoptalk Europe returns to Fira Gran Via, Barcelona from 3rd to 5th June 2024.
The event officially launches this week, with a look at the Shoptalk Europe Advisory Board.
In a LinkedIn post, Ben Miller, Content Director at Shoptalk Europe, said: “Our Advisory Board is comprised of retailer and brand leaders from across Europe who steer our agenda to help us ensure we cover the most important trends in retail innovation and digital transformation.”
“Our aim is to create the most dynamic and progressive community in retail for all of Europe, and our Advisory Board steers us to ensure the industry's priority conversations are covered.”
GroupM and Amazon Ads team up to deliver creator content directly in the online shopping experience
GroupM (via its influencer marketing agency Goat) and Amazon Ads have partnered to introduce creator led shoppable content to the Amazon advertising suite of services available to its clients.
The tie up gives GroupM clients the ability to amplify creator content within the Amazon DSP and in Amazon Sponsored Brand placements.
There are several bespoke formats available, but one example includes the ability to upload creator content onto Product Pages and Brand Stores, with the aim of increasing conversion rates and helping to turn Brand Pages on Amazon into "inspiration hubs" for consumers.
The Dune Group deploys OneStock OMS to support footwear and accessories brand’s omnichannel push
The Dune Group has gone live with OneStock’s order management system.
In a LinkedIn post, OneStock, who worked with partner Tryzens on the project, said: “We’re really looking forward to working with the entire team at Dune to support them in their omnichannel success.”
Emperia CEO Olga Dogadkina talks virtual stores, gaming platforms and popular but absurd comparisons
So says Olga Dogadkina, Founder and CEO at Emperia.
In a LinkedIn post, she says: “Virtual stores and gaming platforms are often seen as like for like technologies.
On the surface, they indeed have some similarities: both are defined as an interactive 3D environment experienced in first-person mode or as an avatar; engagement is an important metric for both.”
That, however, is where the similarities end, Dogadkina argues.
Bayer Consumer Health UK works with Zappar to launch first accessible QR code in healthcare space
Bayer Consumer Health UK, in partnership with Zappar, has introduced a new Accessible QR code (AQR) on its Canescool Soothing Gel Cream product packaging to help those who are blind or partially sighted.
Canescool is the world’s first women’s intimate health brand to adopt AQR codes on its product packaging.
Mike Knowland, Cluster Lead Northern Europe including the UK & Ireland, comments: “This digitally inclusive transformation is a major step change for us as well as the whole healthcare category.”
“The enhanced QR code improves access to important product information for consumers during their shopping journey.”
“It is the start of our ambition to add Accessible QR codes onto more of our product packaging across the consumer health portfolio, so that we continue to meet our company vision of ‘health for all’ and empower more people to find it easier to self-care – a vital societal sustainability pillar of ours.”
Check out our LinkedIn page here.
Continue reading…