Retail Customer Experience

Retail industry observers are asking whether wearable devices such as smartwatches, smart glasses and fitness trackers will move into mainstream use at brick-and-mortar stores. The discussion touches on how wearables could change payments, loyalty programs and the in-store shopping experience. With wearables already common among consumers, retailers are weighing whether to build services and checkout options around them.

Gap has introduced AI-assisted shopping tools, marking a significant digital milestone for the retailer roughly thirty years after it launched its first website. The move signals the company's push to modernise the customer experience with artificial intelligence, joining a wave of retailers deploying AI to personalise shopping and streamline service.

Posiflex has announced a new AI-powered SCO Series kiosk aimed at accelerating self-service adoption in retail. The company says the solution uses artificial intelligence to streamline checkout and improve the in-store customer experience. The launch, distributed via Business Wire and picked up by AFP, positions the point-of-sale maker to compete in the growing self-checkout market as retailers invest in automation.

Furniture Today examines how retailers can develop stronger sales associates through better training programs. The piece outlines approaches to equipping front-line staff with the product knowledge and customer service skills needed to improve the shopping experience and drive sales, a topic of ongoing interest as furniture retailers compete for customers and struggle to retain qualified employees.

A boutique is drawing attention for combining a women's fashion shop with a coffee shop under one roof, offering customers more than clothing alone. The concept blends retail with a café experience, giving shoppers a place to relax while browsing. Details about the boutique's location and ownership were not included in the initial report.

Celebrity-owned beauty brands are increasingly using in-person experiences, such as pop-ups and immersive events, to drive product sales and build customer loyalty. The strategy treats fan engagement as a marketing funnel, converting live interactions into direct revenue. Retail commentators are examining which stars are running these activations most effectively and what it means for the wider beauty industry.

Gap Inc. is marking 30 years since it began selling fashion online and is now setting its sights on the next phase of digital retail, built around artificial intelligence. The retailer says AI-powered shopping experiences will shape its next era, as brands across the fashion industry race to personalise how customers browse, try on and buy clothing.

Home Depot and Lowe's are both deploying AI assistants to improve customer service, but the two home improvement rivals are taking different approaches to the technology. The story compares how each retailer designs and deploys its AI tools despite sharing the same underlying goal of better customer experience.

Retailers are increasingly adopting facial identification technology, according to a column by Jack Karns. The technology is being used to identify known shoplifters and streamline customer experiences, but its spread raises questions about privacy, data security and consent. Commentators are weighing the benefits for loss prevention against concerns about how images of ordinary shoppers are collected, stored and shared across stores.