Including Banuba, Walmart, NewStore, and Zippin: RTIH presents the retail technology week in numbers
Do you like numbers? Do you like retail systems news? Then this is the article for you. Including checkout-free stores, virtual try-on tech, a UK supermarket first, under pressure store associates, and health and beauty taking to the skies.
50…Currys, a UK omnichannel electricals retailer, has announced investments in its store portfolio.
It says that the blended in-store and online omnichannel model continues to be important to its customers, with two-thirds using stores to make their purchases.
50 of Currys largest stores will undergo a makeover which will see the inclusion of new categories, seasonal showcases, and a focus on reinvigorating megastore entrance space.
New categories include health and beauty, pet tech, portable power, and fitness – in line with customer needs and the latest trends.
Seasonal ranges will include the launch of categories such as BBQs and gardening equipment in summer, back to school tech and supplies in the autumn, and new gifting ranges and services in winter.
64,413 and $900,000…Banuba reports that it has played a pivotal role in the success of Brazilian cosmetic brand Boca Rosa's pre-launch.
The event, held over four hours, saw the latter sell 64,413 items, totalling more than $900,000 in sales.
Banuba's virtual try-on functionality (VTO) boosted the beauty shopping experience for over 1.1 million attendees.
By leveraging this technology, customers were able to virtually test Boca Rosa's cosmetics, allowing them to visualise how the products would look on them before making a purchase.
The integration was facilitated by metaKosmos, a Brazilian technology company and partner of Banuba. The virtual try-on feature powered 1.73 million try-on sessions conducted during the event.
5, 4 and 1…Walmart has announced a grocery network transformation, inclusive of five new high-tech perishable distribution centres (PDC), expansions to four existing facilities and the first retrofit of a PDC.
In a blog post, Dave Guggina, EVP Supply Chain, Walmart U.S., says: “Our business is growing. Walmart is the largest grocery retailer in the US, with our grocery network supporting over 4,600 stores with a massive pickup and delivery business that continues to grow as customers seek the convenience and value we offer.”
“That’s why we’re adding state-of-the-art tech to our facilities: to enable greater speed and capacity that allows us to serve customers even more reliably.”
“For example, these high-tech DCs can store double the number of cases and process more than twice the volume of a traditional perishable DC, more than doubling the number of cases processed per hour.”
1…Frasers Group, which is best known for its Sports Direct brand, recently hosted its first ever Customer Conference.
According to David Clark, Chief Customer Officer at Frasers Group, this marks “the evolution from thinking Digital, to thinking Customer. Bringing together the new, broader Customer team at our HQ in Shirebrook”.
$20 million…Mantle, a specialist in metal 3D printing technology for precision tooling, has secured $20 million in Series C funding.
This takes the company’s total funding to more than $61.5 million.
The Series C funding round will support Mantle’s market expansion, scaling manufacturing to meet demand, and developing new capabilities and materials.
Led by Schooner Capital, a Boston-based private investment firm, the round was also joined by the company’s largest existing investors, including Fine Structure Ventures, Foundation Capital, Corazon Capital, 11.2 Capital, and Build Collective.
7…Caroline Welsh is stepping away from the role of Customer, Digital & Trading Board Director at Brico Depôt Iberia (part of Kingfisher Group).
In a LinkedIn post, she said: “A great leader tells us, "Done is better than perfect!" After seven incredible years at Kingfisher, it's time for me to step back, incredibly proud of what we've done and learning it’s OK to not be perfect.”
Welsh, who did not reveal her next job, added: “Working at Brico Depôt Iberia (Grupo Kingfisher) has been a privilege, and I cherish every moment spent with both my Iberia and Screwfix team.”
“Sandra Zárate, you embody the future of female leadership, and Juan Zapata San Martín, your guidance for the team is invaluable. Thank you to everyone who has made me a better person both personally and professionally. Farewell for now, hasta luego!”
1,500…The East of England Co-op has announced the opening of a new convenience store at Ipswich Train Station.
Located on the main concourse of the station, this will serve commuters on the Great Eastern Main Line, which spans from Norwich to London Liverpool Street.
The 1,500 sq. ft. cashless store will feature: Two Barista Coffee-to-go machines; An in-store bakery; Tango Ice Blast and Fwip Ice Cream dispensers; Chilled beers, ciders, wines, and ready-to-drink cocktails.
2…Zippin has announced the opening of a new Zippin Walk-Up store at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs.
This marks the second such location launched at the venue with Aramark Sports + Entertainment.
The store opened in Section 109 this week during a COPA América game and offers an assortment of freshly prepared hot foods, snacks, and beverages.
22 and 24…NewStore has published a blog post summarising the results of its annual consumer survey.
Each year, the company asked more than 1,000 people about the shopping experiences they expect modern store associates to provide.
NewStore revisited the annual survey to better understand how consumer sentiment has shifted over time.
And the key takeaway is this: consumers continue to demand more from frontline retail workers.
In fact, consumer expectations for store associates’ capabilities increased in 22 of the 24 omnichannel categories that were assessed year over year.
For comparison, in 2023, expectations were up in 18 of 24 categories. Not only that, but expectations for each capability increased by an average of 5% across the board.
1…In what is pitched as a UK supermarket first, Lidl GB customers charging their electric vehicles will soon be able to pay via rewards app, Lidl Plus.
This follows an investment of over £15 million into the retailer’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure since 2017. It now has over 370 charging points across its stores, including 300 rapid chargers. The transition will start this summer and be rolled out nationwide by the end of the year.
Chief Development Officer, Richard Taylor, says: “Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do at Lidl. Since we opened our first store 30 years ago, Lidl has contributed to a shift in the way that people shop for their groceries, and this is the latest example of how we’re doing just that, so that we can further enhance our customers’ shopping experience.”
14…There was a general election in the UK last week, with the Labour Party enjoying a landslide victory, sending the Conservative Party and PM Rishi Sunak packing.
When asked whether anything had improved after 14 years of Conservative rule, former BBC journalist Emily Maitlis - whose infamous interview with Prince Andrew was recently turned into a Netflix film - replied: “Deliveries are really good in this country’.
On The News Agents podcast, she said: “Anything you want delivered gets delivered! I think we are brilliant at deliveries. That’s not necessarily down to the public sector… I think it’s down to the private sector.’
“But, compared to any other country, if you want things delivered in a ridiculously small amount of time, come to Britain.”
Whilst Maitlis is bang on, there is still much for the incoming Labour Government to do to ease the burden on the logistics sector, argues Parcelhero.
Particularly reducing post-Brexit red tape and ensuring its planned taxation reforms don’t end up penalising retailers that have developed an integrated e-commerce and high street approach to sales.
30 and 1…To mark its 30th anniversary, Watsons Malaysia has announced the launch of its first ever Watsons branded airplane in collaboration with AirAsia.
Watsons says that it is “the first retailer in Malaysia to bring health and beauty to the skies”.
The airplane will start serving passengers from mid-July onwards at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2, and it will feature Watsons' branding, in-flight shopping opportunities, and various in-flight engagement activities.
Dr. Malina Ngai, Group CEO at AS Watson Group, says: “I’m excited to officiate the launch of our partnership with AirAsia to have our first ever Watsons branded airplane as a special initiative of the 30th anniversary.”
“What led us to this partnership is our shared belief that 'Sky is Not the Limit' – our passion to serve our customers has no limits, and anything is possible for us.”
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