“Commenting, George Charles from money-saving website MoneySavingHeroes.co.uk said: “This is another damning piece of evidence that reiterates the slow death of the high street. Consumers are busy, just don’t have time or are just unwilling to leave their home, so the convenience of being able to browse thousands of options, look for the best deal and have the product then delivered straight to them, appeals to all. We’re all guilty of scrolling through retailers’ websites at 10pm and loading our baskets full of goodies – an experience you just can’t get on the high-street.”

“At the NRF, McMullen emphasized the need for an omnichannel approach at a time when customers are becoming ever more accustomed to convenience and don’t necessarily display a steadfast preference for either online or offline commerce.”

“A rising tide is said to lift all boats, and a new study says rising Internet popularity is lifting online grocery delivery. According to a new market research report from Technavio, the global online grocery delivery market will undergo a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of close to 22% for the period 2018-2022. Technavio analysis indicates two main factors, both related to how consumers use the Internet, will drive this strong growth.”

“Walgreens and FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) today announced the nationwide launch of next-day prescription delivery service, bringing together Walgreens extensive network of neighborhood pharmacy locations with the FedEx air-and-ground delivery network to enhance convenience for patients to fill prescriptions. Walgreens is now the fastest choice for next-day prescription delivery across the nation.”

“Nike has opened the Nike House of Innovation on Fifth Avenue in New York City, combining experiential retail with the power of the Nike App. The 68,000-square-foot space spans six levels, each devoted to a separate product line or experience. The store extensively incorporates mobile devices to minimize friction across the shopper journey.”

“More than 90% of shoppers combine digital and physical channels on the path to purchase, and four in 10 online shoppers are using buy-online, pick-up-in-store (BOPIS) checkout options. But the big news coming out of the 2018 holiday season isn’t how many shoppers are taking advantage of online-to-offline fulfillment. It’s how few retailers are offering it.”

“Walmart-owned Sam’s Club is opening a new store in Dallas, Texas that will double as both a technology lab and a live retail store, enabling both customers and staff to test and make use of the latest developments in retail and payments technology. The new Sam’s Club Now store “will be a mobile-first shopping experience powered by the new Sam’s Club Now app,” says Jamie Iannone, the retailer’s EVP of membership and technology. “It’s where we will incubate, test and refine technologies to help define the future of retail.””

“The 150-store convenience retailer Yesway has ambitious plans to acquire, improve and rebrand as many as 500additional stores over the next few years. Even before this expansion occurs, however, the retailer is solidifying its business with an intense focus on customer loyalty.”

“The digital engagement program will consist of an enhanced website, a redesigned mobile app, a loyalty program, in-store technology, and enhanced enterprise infrastructure.”

“Many successful stores are now a cross between a fast-food drive-through and a hotel concierge. Target’s shoppers can order sunscreen or a Tokidoki Unicorno T-shirt on their phone, pull up to the parking lot and have the items brought to their car. Nordstrom lets customers in some stores make returns by dropping their items into a box and walking out — no human interaction required. Walmart is employing 25,000 “personal shoppers” to select and package groceries for curbside pickup.”