Including Fabletics, Sephora, and Freemans: last week’s biggest retail technology plays at a glance

RTIH rounds up the stand out retail systems deals, launches, deployments and pilots from the past seven days. Including GreyOrange, Boxbar Tech, Bolt Food, Arvid Nordquist, True Classic, Global-e, Power International, Holland & Barrett, and Gallery.

Fabletics

Fabletics is deploying GreyOrange’s gStore solution at more than 100 stores across North America.

Fabletics is an activewear retailer well known for its VIP membership-based model, tech centric store experience, and flexible omnichannel fulfillment options. It says it is using the gStore app to gain pinpoint accurate intelligence about the location and status of every unit of inventory in its retail locations, including its flagship stores in New York and Los Angeles.

Using integrated analytics powered by overhead and handheld RFID readers, Fabletics team members can see precisely where inventory is located. They can see if items are abandoned in dressing rooms or left in the wrong section, and they know immediately if products are running low on the floor. The gStore app’s workforce tasking alerts store associates via smartphone and provides guided pathways for replenishment.

Chelsea FC

Visitors to Chelsea Football Club's Stamford Bridge stadium are now be able to use Boxbar Tech self-service bars.

In a LinkedIn post, the company said: “Today we are thrilled to share some very exciting news coming out from the heart of West London...Stamford Bridge, the home of Chelsea Football Club, has joined the Boxbar Tech revolution.”

It added: “Our partners, Legends/ASM Global Europe, recently joined forces with Chelsea Football Club becoming the official new catering service provider at the Bridge. Introducing Boxbar is one of many steps being taken in their mission to ensure world class hospitality for Blues fans and all visitors to the stadium.”

“A huge shout out must go to our partners at ASM Global for continuing to put their trust in us and to every fan who grabbed a pint and helped make the season opener such a success.”

EDEKA Paschmann

EDEKA Paschmann in Düsseldorf has become the first supermarket in Germany to use Diebold Nixdorf's Vynamic Smart Vision I Shrink Reduction solution at its self-service checkouts.

The AI enabled technology addresses errors at the self-service checkout - both unintentional and deliberate. In addition, the systems are equipped with Diebold Nixdorf's automatic, AI powered age verification.

Vynamic Smart Vision I Shrink Reduction uses cameras to analyse customer behaviour and activities at the self-service checkout in real-time. If the system detects a missed scan or incorrect operation, customers receive a nudge via a message on the checkout display informing that an item has not been scanned correctly.

Once the shopper self-rectifies and scans the product which was missed, the transaction continues without major interruption to the checkout process. Employees are only informed if the system displays another error message, so they can provide support to complete the checkout process correctly.

Short, real-time video sequences of the anomaly detected by the system help to better illustrate the process to customers and explain how certain operating errors can be avoided in future.

Dick’s Sporting Goods

TheyDo reports that retailers like Dick’s Sporting Goods are increasingly using AI powered journey management to understand customer needs in context and act on them faster.

At Forrester’s CX Summit events in North America and EMEA, MetLife and Lufthansa shared how TheyDo’s Journey AI and Data Hub helps teams spot and resolve issues in hours instead of weeks.

“Experience is the new currency of growth, and our customers are proving that aligning around journeys unlocks real, strategic value,” says Jochem van der Veer, CEO and Co-founder at TheyDo. “This first half of the year marks a tipping point - from talking about customer centricity to operationalising it at scale, powered by AI.”

Sephora

Diggecard has landed Sephora as a client. In a LinkedIn post, the company said: “Sephora is one of the world’s most iconic and innovative beauty retailers, and we are delighted to be managing its B2B gift card programme in the UK.”

It added: “Through our dedicated B2B sales function, global portfolio of brands and operational infrastructure, UK businesses will now have streamlined access to Sephora’s gift card offering - available digitally - supporting a wide range of corporate use cases, from employee recognition and festive gifting to customer acquisition campaigns and promotional partnerships.”

Other brands leveraging Diggecard’s gift card capabilities include Lego, TK Maxx, The Body Shop, Arsenal FC, Dunelm, Moss, National Trust and River Island.

Arvid Nordquist

Arvid Nordquist, a Nordic coffee producer and distributor, has selected RELEX Solutions, in a bid to improve demand planning processes across all its product categories.

The implementation will include AI powered demand planning and sensing, alongside promotion forecasting to deliver more accurate forecasts and streamlined planning workflows.

Arvid Nordquist is a third-generation, family owned group headquartered in Stockholm with market channels across Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland. Its portfolio spans coffee, wine and beer, food and confectionery, and selected non-food household brands, with in-house labels and more than 40 international partners. It markets over 1,600 products to grocery, HoReCa, and office channels.

Arvid Nordquist recognised an opportunity to improve its supply chain planning approach, moving away from a largely manual and time-consuming demand planning process. It chose RELEX for its ability to accommodate diverse planning characteristics across different product categories through advanced configurability, while integrating with existing SAP systems.

True Classic

Global-e reports that apparel brand True Classic has renewed its partnership with the company.

Since partnering with Global-e, True Classic has expanded its global online footprint, growing from a digital native brand serving only the US and Canada to reaching over 200 international markets. Today, international sales account for over 25% of its total e-commerce revenue, with key markets including Canada, the UAE, the UK, Australia, Switzerland, Norway, and Sweden.

“It’s been incredibly rewarding to support True Classic’s journey from a domestic direct-to-consumer brand to a truly global player,” says Matthew Merrilees, CEO North America at Global-e. “The brand’s rapid international growth is a testament to the power of the localised e-commerce experience and operational excellence. We’re thrilled to extend our partnership and look forward to driving even more global success together in the years to come.” 

Bolt Food

Delivery platform Bolt Food has partnered with financial infrastructure firm finmid to launch Bolt Food Finance - a programme pitched at small and medium-sized businesses.

Now live in Latvia - with plans to expand to more of Bolt Food’s countries and cities in phases - restaurants and stores can access finmid’s embedded lending via the Bolt Food platform. Offers can be accepted online, and over 99% of active partners in the launch region are already pre-approved. Funds of up to €30,000 can then be transferred within 24 hours, or financing can be extended to €200,000 on request. 

These funds can be used to meet any business need, including equipment upgrades, renovations, hiring, or marketing, and repayments follow a flexible model tied to income. Each month, partner restaurants repay a fixed percentage of the revenue they generate through the Bolt Food platform.

Blackhawk Network and Toggle

Blackhawk Network has exclusively partnered with gift card and experience platform Toggle to launch the Foodie Favourites Gift Card, a new multi-brand offering that champions the UK’s independent and small-chain restaurants. 

Pitched as a first of its kind in the UK, this is designed for diners who seek out unique culinary experiences and special occasions.

Ban Mahsoub, Partnership Director for Tesco Insurance and Money Services, says: “We’re excited to launch the new One4all Foodie Favourites Gift Card, further extending our popular range of One4all Favourites Gift Cards. This new addition gives customers even more choice and flexibility, allowing them to personalise their gifting experience in a way that truly reflects the tastes of their loved ones.” 

"With over 80 third-party brand gift cards already available in Tesco stores, the launch of the Foodie Favourites card reinforces our commitment to catering for all tastes and occasions.” 

Freemans

Freemans.com has announced a partnership with Mirakl involving the online retailer’s dropship capabilities.

Over the last five years, Freemans has been moving from a legacy catalogue business to a digital pureplay with a strategy of targeting the 40+ UK consumer group.

Its digital department store strategy requires a mix of own bought product, some designed in-house and others sourced via its parent Otto. To complement this, its team is onboarding a curation of well known third party retail brands.

The partnership allows Freemans to replatform elements of its dropship strategy to Mirakl’s solution in a bid to accelerate supplier onboarding, help merchandising teams, and unlock new product categories. 

Although it’s early days the collaboration has thus far seen over 70 new third party brands onboarded, including French Connection, Blue Vanilla, Roman Originals, Tog 24, Mountain Warehouse, Einhell, MenKind and Panda.

Power International

Power International, a consumer electronics retailer which operates stores across Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland, has deployed Flow Retail’s PoS/store data system at a first pilot location in Norway following a trial in Finland.

In a LinkedIn post, Even Rognan Lutnæs, Group CTO at Power International, said: “It's alive! Great day today! This morning, we went live in our first pilot store in Power Norge with the new PoS/store data system from Flow Retail at Power Strømmen in Strømmen Storsenter.”

“Until now, the solution has been running in six franchisee pilot stores in Finland, but today the new system was launched in our first fully owned store, with a full omnichannel stack behind it - connected to Omnium OMS as the hub between PoS, e-commerce, and SAP.”

Holland & Barrett

Holland & Barrett says that it has dramatically cut the time and effort required to process Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs), saving an estimated 3,000 hours annually with the help of Aiimi’s Workplace AI Platform. 

The UK health and wellness retailer saw an 83% year-on-year increase in DSARs.

Thousands of hours were being spent on manually locating, assessing and redacting sensitive information from large volumes of unstructured data. Failure to complete a DSAR can damage public trust and leave organisations in hot water with the ICO, risking fines of up to £17.5 million for non-compliance. H&B needed a way to ensure the rigour of the process without sacrificing more time. 

Iona University

Gallery has launched an Amazon Just Walk Out technology powered store at Iona University in the US, in time for the return of students to campus following the summer break.

In a LinkedIn post, Garett Buchholz, Account Executive at Gallery, said: “Keeping the foot on the gas pedal. Proud to announce the launch of another Amazon JWO store at Iona University.”

He added: “Big thanks to Andrew Goodman (Project Manager at Gallery), Peter L. Bonacci (Regional Vice President at Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services), Francis Spiegel (Senior Programme Manager at Amazon Web Services), and everyone else who helped bring this project to life right before the school year kicked off.”

“Students are now returning to campus with a renovated building - and inside it, a brand new JWO store designed to maximise throughput and create a smoother, more convenient experience.”

Iona University is a private Catholic university with a main campus in New Rochelle, New York, United States. It was founded in 1940 by the Congregation of Christian Brothers and occupies a campus of 45 acres in New Rochelle and a campus of 28 acres in Bronxville, New York.

Joseph Joseph

Joseph Joseph has announced a new long-term partnership with XPO Logistics, a provider of end-to-end logistics solutions across Europe, covering omnichannel fulfilment, warehousing, pre-retailing, and distribution services. 

The deal is part of wider plans to scale Joseph Joseph’s UK and international business. 

XPO Logistics’ e-fulfilment hub in Rugby aims to provide flexible and scalable solutions tailored to these ambitions. The company claims that its warehouse seamlessly integrates inbound, outbound, and value-added services, promising efficiency, agility, and consistency.