TikTok backlashes and human holograms: our most read retail technology articles from last week
Check out our most clicked articles from last week, including Target, Walmart, Royal Mail, Space NK, American Eagle, Click Labs, Evermile, McDonald's, Selfridges, Xpand, and the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards.
Walmart sets sights on Gen Z and Gen Alpha as retailer introduces new immersive online storefronts
Walmart has launched a new series of immersive online storefronts, with a focus on cultural movements inspired by and shaping Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
In a LinkedIn post, Justin Breton, Head of Brand Partnerships & Emerging Experiences, said: "Over a year ago, we launched Walmart Realm, an immersive shopping experience blending culture, content, and commerce to facilitate product discovery and brand reappraisal. Since then, it’s connected millions of younger shoppers with creator curated products, interactive mini-games, and trend driven storytelling through this emerging medium."
He added: "We’re now introducing our boldest wave of new immersive storefronts yet, all rooted in the cultural movements inspired by and shaping Gen Z and Gen Alpha, as we redefine how they discover, connect, and shop with our brand online. We’re starting with the vibrant K-POP Era, followed by Lo-Fi Playing, Rodeo Dreams, Nature Breaks, and Group Woosah."
The move is in support of Walmart Delivers, the US retail giant's IRL mobile pop-ups bringing these social trends to cities nationwide where consumers can expect photo booths, customisable giveaways, and interactive zones that turn shopping into an event. On 2nd September, the Walmart Delivers K-POP pop-up will be at the BABYMONSTER concert in Chicago.
Retail tech and innovation focused Canadian Tire boss Greg Hicks a leading candidate for Target CEO
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, there is a growing level of frustration inside Target that the retail giant has lost its way, and a push for a new CEO is underway.
Greg Hicks, Canadian Tire Corporation CEO, Richard Dickson, CEO at Gap, and Chris Nicholas, President and CEO at Sam's Club, are the top three external candidates, according to Brittain Ladd, a supply chain consultant and former Amazon executive.
The leading internal candidate, meanwhile, is Michael Fiddelke.
“Michael is my choice to be CEO if an internal candidate is chosen,” Ladd said. “However, based on discussions with industry analysts, and according to the WSJ, the overwhelming preference is that an external candidate be hired to be the CEO.”
“But who? There are several executives that I believe would be a great fit for Target. Walmart has several executives who could be its CEO. The problem is this: Walmart enforces non-compete agreements that prevent senior executives from leaving the company and working for a retailer with more than $7 billion in annual revenue. Target's 2024 revenue was $106 billion.”
A challenge for Target is that the company needs someone who is skilled in softlines, CPG and grocery, and hardlines. And most of the executives with this experience work at Walmart.
Another challenge, Ladd believes, is that Target urgently needs to undergo a transformation. This means replacing the majority of executives and hiring exceptionally talented executives to take their place. Such a move would require a CEO who is skilled at stepping into the role and making significant changes immediately, and still generating results.
Beauty blunder? Space NK’s London Oxford Circus launch draws mixed reviews and long queues chaos
“It’s official, our biggest and best store opening on Oxford Circus was INSANE and it’s thanks to our incredible community,” Space NK announced on LinkedIn on 8th August, celebrating the launch of its largest ever store with a beauty playground, fragrance engraving station, and an exclusive Jellycat bag charm that sold out within hours.
The Oxford Street flagship had been heavily trailled on TikTok in the weeks leading up to its debut, with beauty fans counting down to what many hoped would be the ultimate shopping experience. And while the launch certainly generated buzz (and lengthy queues) the mood on social media after the event was far less unanimous.
Call for entries: just five weeks left to get your submissions in for the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards
Time is running out to enter the seventh edition of the RTIH Innovation Awards, sponsored by Vista Technology Support, 3D Cloud, EdTech Innovation Hub, and Retail Technology Show.
Deadline for submissions is Friday, 19th September.
The awards celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world. Check out our 2024 winners here.
Our latest winners will be revealed at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Thursday, 16th October.
Key dates
Friday, 19th September: Award entry deadline
Tuesday, 23rd September: 2025 finalists revealed
Wednesday, 24th September - Wednesday, 8th October: Judging days
Thursday, 16th October: Winners announced at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Thursday, 16th October.
American Eagle store visits downturn continues as Sydney Sweeney ad controversy rumbles on
New data from pass_by shows that a downturn in American Eagle store visits has accelerated for the second straight week following the Sydney Sweeney ad controversy.
A jeans campaign featuring the actress has caused uproar since it made its debut a few weeks ago, as has Sweeney being outed as a Repubican supporter, with the likes of US President Donald Trump having their say.
Most recently, Dr. Phil McCraw has weighed in with his take. The TV personality appeared on last week’s episode of Real Time with Bill Maher, which saw the titular host say: "Sydney Sweeney came out as - not came out - she was exposed as a Republican. And she has the big jeans ad that was controversial. And they reported this like it was a scandal, [that] she's a Republican. I just got to say this is not where I want America to go. It is not a slur that someone is a Republican."
"For people to go crazy over that ad [that says] 'she's got good genes,' and for them to say that's the equivalent of the Holocaust, is an absolute insult," McCraw added. "Six million people were killed. Six million Jews were massacred and murdered, and they equate that to a blue jeans ad for a Hollywood actress? What an insult."
He continued, "That is ridiculous. I'm gonna go out and buy those jeans for every woman in my family, everybody I know just to show support."
Fortnite players offered chance to jump into nostalgic McDonaldland universe after 20 year hiatus
The magic kingdom filled with apple pie trees and hamburger patches, and home to characters like Ronald McDonald, Grimace, Birdie, Hamburglar, Mayor McCheese and the Fry Friends, was first introduced in commercials in the early 1970s.
“For the first time in decades, we are taking fans on a trip to McDonaldland with an immersive experience that taps into the past to create the future,” says Jennifer “JJ” Healan, the company’s US Marketing, Brand, Content and Culture. “It’s a chance for us to give fans a new, modern way to experience this magical world.”
US customers can take a trip down memory lane with the McDonaldland meal at participating restaurants starting this week, for a limited time. And Fornite fans can also get involved.
In a LinkedIn post, Ashley Lewis, Managing Director at Metavision, said: “Reimagined for a new generation, the multi-channel campaign spans TV, experiential, gaming, AR, VR, the McDonald's app and in-store; heroing a limited time McDonaldland meal and shake in the US.”
He added: “On Fortnite, we're giving players a chance to jump into the McDonaldland universe themselves, with action packed mini games alongside fan favourite characters like Ronald, Grimace, Birdie and Mayor McCheese. Expect nostalgia and a playground built for your inner child.”
Selfridges tries out 'smart, witty, charismatic' HYPERVSN AI Hologram Human at London Oxford Street store
HYPERVSN has deployed its AI Hologram Human solution at Selfridges' store in London's Oxford Street.
In a LInkedIn post, CEO and Founder Kiryl Chykeyuk, said: "She doesn’t sleep. She doesn’t eat. She never forgets a single product detail. Will AI assistants replace us humans - in airports, banks, telco, healthcare? Our AI Hologram Human at Selfridges London talks to over 100 people, every single day. No lunch breaks. No burnout. Just consistent 24/7 customer service."
"Fluent in 100+ languages. Always smiling. Always on. Some talk to her more than they would to a real person - no shyness, no judgement. And it feels so human. And fun - lots of fun! She can take on what humans can’t always cope with: endless repetition; 24/7 shifts; hundreds of questions a day.”
“Freeing people to do the things only we can do - e.g. creativity, complex decisions. She might be the easiest hire we’ve ever made. Smart. Witty. Charismatic. This is just the beginning."
Jack Clarkson takes on new role heading up Royal Mail OOH network of parcel shops, lockers and dropboxes
Jack Clarkson has been appointed by Royal Mail as Managing Director, Out of Home & Commercial Excellence.
He was previously MD at an International Distribution Services company that supplies, manages and maintains parcel lockers for Royal Mail.
The new role sees him leading the latter’s out of home network of over 20,000 parcel shops, lockers and dropboxes, and also its digital, marketing and contact centre teams.
Retail technology startup Xpand bags $6 million in funding and preps first smart autonomous store in Vienna
Xpand, a retail technology startup building autonomous, AI powered stores, has raised $6 million in a funding round led by Ibex Investors and Emerge.
The company’s executive team, including Chairman and CEO Joel Bar-El, also participated. Bar-El previously co-founded Trax Retail. Other senior team members bring experience from companies including SAP, Retalix, Bringg, and Magic Leap.
Headquartered in Tel Aviv and founded in 2021 under the name 1MRobotics, the venture was rebranded as Xpand to reflect its shift from research and development to commercial deployment. The new capital will accelerate store roll-outs across Europe and North America and fund the expansion of the sales, marketing, and technology teams. The launch of its first smart autonomous store in Vienna is in the works.
“With this new investment, we are ready to move from vision to global execution,” says Bar-El. “The Vienna store is only the beginning. Our leadership team is deeply committed to bringing scalable, autonomous retail to life.”
Click Labs announces expansion of logistics footprint as it buys Evermile, an AI platform built for SME retailers
Click Labs, a specialist in logistics and on-demand delivery software, has announced the acquisition of Evermile, a London and Tel Aviv-based AI retail operations platform built for SME retailers.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Founded in 2022 by Omer Goldschmidt, Ynon Cohen, and Omry Hochberg, the Evermile platform acts as a “virtual operations manager” for retail - automating daily workflows typically handled manually by SME teams. Its AI agents and proprietary orchestration engine handle everything from order prep and delivery assignment to SLA tracking, support resolution and personalised customer engagement.
Since launching in 2023, Evermile has powered hundreds of thousands of orders and supported the daily operations of thousands of independent retailers across the UK. It has become a partner to brands like Ottolenghi, CakeBox, and Paul’s Bakery.
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