Primark hits Pinterest: these are our 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. As we power towards the 25,000 followers mark, these are the articles that are currently on their radars, including Osprey London, Sitoo, StrongPoint, AutoStore, Stadium, Omnium, PMC, WHSmith, Kingfisher, Sodaclick, Carrefour Israel, Dassault Systèmes, and Apple.
Pecan AI expands leadership team with tech veteran Trevor Healy and former P&G CIO Andy Walter
Pecan AI has appointed Trevor Healy as Executive Chairman and former P&G CIO Andy Walter as an advisory board member.
Healy is a technology entrepreneur and investor (formerly PayPal, Telefonica, Verisign). Walter was formerly CIO at Procter & Gamble.
“AI adoption isn’t just about having the right technology - it’s about making AI work for business teams,” says Healy. “Companies today have more data than ever, yet many still struggle to turn it into meaningful predictions. Pecan is changing that by making predictive analytics directly available to business teams, without requiring dedicated data scientists. That’s why I’m excited to help scale this transformation.”
Walter, who led P&G’s global analytics transformation, says: “Many organisations invest in AI but struggle to scale it beyond early stage pilots. Pecan is addressing this challenge by enabling business intelligence teams to apply predictive analytics where it matters, without getting stuck in complex modeling or technical bottlenecks.”
Primark notches up a social first as it goes live with Pinterest inspired Spring home collection
Primark is for the first time ever officially launching a Pinterest inspired new Spring home collection.
As new research (which involved a survey of 2,003 Brits) reveals a lack of money (51%) and a lack of inspiration (22%) are some of the biggest challenges when it comes to redecorating, the pair say that they are partnering to make it easier than ever to design and transform your space with stylish, budget friendly pieces.
The new collection, launching in Primark stores and available to purchase via Pinterest using Click & Collect, is inspired by the social media platform's search data and features products from Spring floral crockery, to soft pink frill bedding. The three hottest trends that have informed the collections are - Cosy Cottage, Minamaluxe and Dainty Décor.
To style the new collection before they buy it, people can head to Pinterest and use Collages - an interactive tool to pull together their vision, using cutouts of products from the Primark range. It’s then possible to bag the collection in a new way, as the Collages link directly to Click & Collect, which is now available in over 130 Primark stores across Great Britain. Shoppers can also purchase the range in stores throughout March.
Sinead McDonagh, Head of Design at Primark, says: “Pinterest is where so many of us go for home inspiration, but sometimes turning those saved Pins into reality isn’t always easy, especially on a budget. That’s why at Primark Home, we’re committed to making trend led interiors affordable and effortless."
Swedish firm Sitoo follows Verdane investment by adding British brand Osprey London to customer list
Osprey London, a British brand known for its leather bags and accessories, is working with Sitoo, a cloud native PoS and unified commerce platform.
In a LinkedIn post, Sitoo said: "Reimagining British premium, Osprey London's digital transformation over the past year has been designed to support future growth. Today, we’re proud to collaborate in creating a seamless shopping experience for their customers - an immersive destination where heritage meets innovation, blending timeless elegance with playful energy for an authentic brand experience."
"We warmly welcome the team to the Sitoo family and look forward to a successful partnership built on innovation and shared achievements. It’s a privilege to be part of their journey."
Retail Technology Show announces 2025 Innovation Award shortlist including Pricer and Akeneo
Retail Technology Show (RTS) has announced the shortlist for its 2025 Innovation Awards, which champions the progressive technologies powering retail transformation.
Every year, the awards highlight the best examples of game-changing solutions from across the RTS exhibition floor. They are judged by a panel made up of the RTS advisory board, as well as industry analysts and influencers, such as NBK Consulting’s Natalie Berg, IGD’s Toby Pickard, Andrew Busby, Retail Connection’s Chris Field, and OB&Co’s Oliver Banks.
Stadium partners with omnichannel firm Omnium for next big step in digitalisation journey
Stadium, a sports retailer in the Nordics, has chosen Omnium as its new omnichannel platform.
It will implement Omnium’s order management system (OMS) and commerce engine to power the next generation of its online platforms across all Stadium concepts.
“After evaluating multiple solutions, we found that Omnium aligns perfectly with the architecture we aim to build and meets the high demands we and, most importantly, our customers have,” says Tommy Resin, Head of Digital Business at Stadium Group.
“With a strong digital presence and a broad store network across the Nordics, Omnium will support our next big step in digitalisation and upgrading the customer experience. The platform will enable an even more seamless experience, regardless of whether customers choose to shop in-store or online, across both Stadium and Stadium Outlet.”
WHSmith partners with PMC as retailer looks to enhance in-store experience across UK and Ireland
PMC has announced an expanded partnership with WHSmith to deliver a new programme of managed services that will support the retailer’s ongoing transformation across its UK and Ireland stores.
It will provide critical service desk, application support and remote monitoring assistance to ensure operational stability throughout the transition and beyond.
“PMC’s deep understanding of our business and their ability to provide seamless support were key factors in choosing them for this project,” says Paul Rodgers, IT Services Director at WHSmith.
“Their commitment to empowering our store teams with efficient technology solutions is vital to ensure our colleagues can deliver the exceptional service our customers expect.”
Home improvement retailer Kingfisher enlists Sodaclick for launch of AI powered DIY Store Assistant tool
Kingfisher has worked with Sodaclick to create an AI powered DIY Store Assistant tool.
In a LinkedIn post, Nina Mustafa, Business Development Manager at Sodaclick, said: "Had a little cameo moment at the ChromeOS x Kingfisher event this week (maternity leave edition!) and couldn’t miss the chance to showcase something game-changing for DIY stores."
"DIY Store Assistant is your ultimate in-store expert, ready to guide, inspire, and delight. Need the perfect paint colour? Get advice on the latest trends. Building a drywall? It will tell you exactly how, what you need, and where to find it in-store. Looking for a low maintenance plant, it's your gardening expert. Retailer benefits? Smarter upselling, seamless cross-selling, and a next level customer journey."
She added: "But let’s be clear this isn’t here to replace staff! It’s here to help. By answering common customer questions, the AI assistant frees up store teams to focus on what matters restocking shelves, keeping the store looking great, and handling tasks that need a human touch. Less pressure on staff, happier customers, and a smoother shopping experience for everyone."
"Brought to you on the secure, scalable ChromeOS and Chrome Enterprise ecosystem delivering reliability and performance built for retail."
Dassault Systèmes teams with Apple to integrate Apple Vision Pro into 3DEXPERIENCE platform
Dassault Systèmes reports that 3D UNIV+RSES powered by the 3DEXPERIENCE platform will leverage spatial computing for virtual twins, with the new 3DLive visionOS app, available this summer.
The company has partnered with Apple to integrate Apple Vision Pro into the aforementioned platform.
With 3DLive, virtual twins created on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform will be able to leap off the screen and into a user’s physical space, enabling real-time visualisation and team collaboration in lifelike environments. Apple Vision Pro’s cameras, sensors and tracking also allow virtual twins to interact with the physical world around them in 3D UNIV+RSES.
“Our engineering collaboration with Apple represents a bold advance that reveals the power of 3D UNIV+RSES, where 3D is a universal language for a new world combining real and virtual,” says Elisa Prisner, Executive Vice President – Corporate Strategy & Platform Transformation, Dassault Systèmes.
“This is at the core of our next generation of representation of the world. The wide and growing adoption of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform by our clients makes this cooperation a unique value for our gigantic, highly diversified customer base, seeing the high potential of 3D UNIV+RSES to collaborate and train our next generation AI-based experiences on their own virtual twin data set.”
Major UK cosmetics retailer connects with StrongPoint to design and install its AutoStore solution
StrongPoint reports its selection by an unnamed (but described as a leading) UK cosmetics retailer to design and install its first AutoStore solution. The value of the contract is approximately MNOK 35, estimated to be delivered over the next 12 months.
“Following the achievements of the world’s first AutoStore Multi-Temperature Solution with a frozen zone designed and installed by StrongPoint, we are very happy to be announcing our first AutoStore installation in the UK. Our focus is now to deliver the best possible solution for the customer, leveraging our extensive experience in the retail e-commerce and automation sectors,” says Jacob Tveraabak, StrongPoint CEO.
Digital loyalty specialist SQUID Loyalty launches funding round to drive its international expansion
SQUID Loyalty, an ecosystem bringing customers, businesses, payments and rewards together, has launched a seed+ funding round. It is seeking to raise up to €1.35 million via Crowdcube as part of a larger round from new and existing investors.
SQUID is seeking investment to fund the next phase of its expansion strategy, building on its presence across Ireland, the UK and Australia to enter new markets, move into new high growth verticals such as hospitality and fitness, and add strategic partners across the payment space.
The cash will also be used to introduce Wave by SQUID, a universal loyalty solution allowing customers to earn points across SQUID’s network and turn them into perks and experiences, from their favourite local coffee shop to large online brands, entertainment and fitness, travel and beyond.
Carrefour Israel taps Pairzon AI tech for more intelligent and data driven approach to marketing
Carrefour Israel has leveraged Pairzon's AI marketing platform.
"Pairzon has enabled us to take a more intelligent and data driven approach to our marketing," says Hagit Taigfeld, CMO at Carrefour Israel. "By connecting our online and offline customer data, we've improved the efficiency of our campaigns and seen measurable improvements in key performance indicators."
Supply chain tech specialist FuturMaster announces appointment of Xavier Aubenque as CFO
FuturMaster, a provider of supply chain planning and revenue growth management SaaS solutions, has appointed Xavier Aubenque as Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
This follows its acquisition by Sagard NewGen and a recent merger with PlaniSense.
A graduate of Supelec and ESCP, Aubenque brings extensive experience in financial strategy and international business operations. He has held leadership roles in M&A and corporate finance at KPMG, EY, and Casino Group, before serving as CFO in Retail Media, SaaS, and mobility tech companies, where he led financial transformations and international scaling efforts.
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