Latest news with #retailinnovation
Zawya
02-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oriental Weavers launches OW Haptech Store — The world's first-ever phygital carpet retail experience
Cairo – Oriental Weavers, the world's leading manufacturer of woven carpets, announces the launch of the OW Haptech Store, the world's first-ever phygital carpet retail store, now open in Mivida, New Cairo. By integrating physical product exploration with interactive digital technologies, the store sets a new global benchmark for the carpet industry, reinforcing Oriental Weavers' commitment to innovation and craftsmanship while redefining the future of carpet retail. Spanning 250 square meters, the state-of-the-art store introduces a new retail model that merges real-time visualization tools, immersive environments, interactive displays, and AI-driven customization to meet the evolving expectations of today's consumers, who value creativity, convenience, and personalization. Moreover, It features exclusive, limited-edition international pieces from Oriental Weavers' global portfolio. Commenting on this, Ms. Yasmine Khamis, Chair of Oriental Weavers Carpets, said: 'OW Haptech Store represents a breakthrough for the global carpet industry, introducing the world's first-ever phygital retail carpet store right here in Egypt. This innovation underscores Oriental Weavers' global leadership. With a presence in over 118 countries and operations spanning 27 factories in Egypt and the US, we are proud to be a symbol of 'Made in Egypt' excellence, driving industrial growth, creating jobs, and supporting the state's vision to position Egypt as a global manufacturing hub.' The launch of OW Haptech store brings together tactile sensory interaction and digital innovation in a seamless in-store experience, derived from 'haptic' and 'technology.' It invites customers to reimagine their homes through a variety of interactive features. Using full-scale projection, the Phygital Preview allows them to visualize designs directly on the store floor and explore wall-mounted sampling sections that showcase the look and feel of each rug before finalizing their choices. In the OW Studio, customers can co-create customized rugs with Oriental Weavers' experts using AI-powered design tools. The store reflects OW's strategic vision to modernize retail while staying rooted in quality and heritage. This is part of a continued investment in smart manufacturing, digital retail solutions, and sustainable materials, further reinforcing Oriental Weavers' long-term commitment to efficiency, innovation, and leadership in the global carpet market. About Oriental Weavers Group: The Oriental Weavers Group was founded in 1979 by industrialist and entrepreneur Mohammed Farid Khamis. Listed on the Egyptian Stock Exchange (EGX) since 1997, the Group has grown from a single loom operation to become the largest producer of machine-woven carpets in the world. Drawing from Egypt's rich textile heritage, dating back to c.5000 BC, Oriental Weavers is now a global leader in tufted and jet-printed carpets. Based in Cairo, the Group has manufacturing facilities in the United States and Egypt and distributes its products in over 118 countries. Oriental Weavers is committed to innovative manufacturing processes, inspired by the latest trends, and providing products that are both accessible and of high quality, crafted to deliver lasting value and happiness to its customers.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Walmart Just Opened 'Dark Stores' You Can't Shop In
Walmart has launched a bold new retail experiment, and customers aren't invited inside. The retail giant is testing "dark stores," which look like regular stores on the outside but are closed to the public. Instead, they serve one purpose: fulfilling online orders as quickly as possible. Bloomberg reported that the first of these hidden-in-plain-sight warehouses just opened in Dallas, with another planned for Bentonville, Arkansas, Walmart's hometown. More locations are expected to follow as the company ramps up efforts to compete with Amazon and meet growing demand for lightning-fast delivery. These dark stores carry Walmart's most in-demand items, streamlining the process of getting products from shelf to doorstep. Unlike traditional stores or massive distribution centers, dark stores are designed for speed. By eliminating foot traffic and optimizing layouts for employees and delivery drivers, they allow Walmart to reach more homes faster and more efficiently. Walmart previously dabbled in dark stores during the mid-2010s and throughout the pandemic but shut them down as shopping habits with e-commerce surging again and customers increasingly paying for faster delivery, the retailer is bringing the concept back with a modern twist. These smaller-scale fulfillment hubs will amplify the reach of both its neighborhood stores and larger regional warehouses. The initiative is part of a larger digital transformation. Walmart has invested billions into online operations, expanded its marketplace for third-party sellers, introduced services like pharmacy delivery, and adopted automation for picking and packing orders. Executives expect the online business to hit profitability this year. While Amazon has long dominated the race for fast shipping, Walmart's infrastructure and deep pockets give it a unique edge. By turning dark stores into a nationwide network of fulfillment engines, Walmart is betting that convenience—not just price—is what will keep customers coming back. In a retail landscape that's evolving at warp speed, these behind-the-scenes stores may soon become the secret weapon in Walmart's quest to win the delivery Walmart Just Opened 'Dark Stores' You Can't Shop In first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 24, 2025
National Post
24-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
NuORDER by Lightspeed Expands Luxury Retail Footprint with Saks Global
Article content As part of an expanded partnership with Saks Global, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman will now leverage NuORDER, advancing the company's efforts to reinvent luxury shopping Article content MONTREAL — NuORDER by Lightspeed, a leading global commerce platform that enables retailers and brands to connect, collaborate, and make smarter buying decisions, has established an expanded partnership with Saks Global. Saks Fifth Avenue has leveraged NuORDER to make informed buying decisions and enhance efficiency. Now, NuORDER's capabilities will be extended to Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman to help Saks Global further its efforts to reinvent the luxury shopping experience. Article content 'With the continuous evolution of luxury consumer shopping preferences, we're committed to building a luxury fashion assortment that is both relevant and inspiring for our customers,' said Paolo Riva, Chief Brand Partnerships & Buying Officer, Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus. 'We're pleased to partner with NuORDER in our efforts to drive timely buying decisions in collaboration with our brand partners, enabling us to meet our customers with a refined edit of the latest fashion through highly personalized shopping experiences.' Article content Yumi Shin, Chief Merchandising Officer, Bergdorf Goodman, added, 'With NuORDER's innovative analytical capabilities, we are continuing to equip our teams with modern tools to ensure our customers' needs are met. We look forward to working with NuORDER to amplify our globally recognized curation and deliver the best in luxury, season-after-season.' NuORDER by Lightspeed has revolutionized the buying and merchandising process for retailers that operate multiple channels and cater to different markets while still delivering a strong, cohesive brand experience. By replacing outdated manual processes with a digital interface, NuORDER reduces operational costs significantly for retailers. Now, buying teams can easily plan and manage assortments across hundreds of brands, aligning their selections with the evolving tastes of today's luxury consumer. Brands and retailers can collaborate in real-time to curate hyper-personalized assortments based on live data and insights to drive profitability and speed up order writing to get the right products in front of the right customers at the right time. Article content 'Retailers are rethinking their wholesale strategies to become more precise, profitable, and brand aligned. We are proud that Saks Global continues to see NuORDER as a key part of their merchandising strategy,' said Chris Akrimi, General Manager of NuORDER by Lightspeed. 'By expanding our partnership to include Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Global is reinforcing its commitment to smarter buying, faster go-to-market timelines, and delivering assortments that meet the moment.' Article content NuORDER by Lightspeed is a leading B2B commerce platform powering wholesale buying and selling. NuORDER offers a full suite of commerce solutions engineered to streamline the way brands sell their products all around the world while providing retailers with the insights they need to make better buying decisions. Today, more than 4,000 brands and more than 100,000 vetted retailers use NuORDER to transform their wholesale operations. Lightspeed acquired NuORDER in 2021. Article content Powering the businesses that are the backbone of the global economy, Lightspeed's one-stop commerce platform helps merchants innovate to simplify, scale, and provide exceptional customer experiences. Lightspeed's cloud commerce solution transforms and unifies online and physical operations, multichannel sales, expansion to new locations, global payments, financial solutions, and connection to supplier networks. Article content Founded in Montréal, Canada in 2005, Lightspeed is dual-listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: LSPD) and Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: LSPD). With teams across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific, the company serves retail, hospitality, and golf businesses in over 100 countries. Article content Follow NuORDER on social media: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Article content Forward-Looking Statements Article content This news release may include forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws (' forward-looking statements '), including information regarding Lightspeed's product offerings and partnerships. Forward-looking statements are statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions and are identified by words such as 'will', 'expects', 'anticipates', 'intends', 'plans', 'believes', 'estimates' or similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Such statements are based on current expectations of Lightspeed's management and inherently involve numerous risks and uncertainties, known and unknown, including economic factors. A number of risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this news release, including, among other factors, those risk factors identified in our most recent Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, under 'Risk Factors' in our most recent Annual Information Form, and in our other filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are available under our profiles on SEDAR+ at and on EDGAR at Readers are cautioned to consider these and other factors carefully when making decisions with respect to Lightspeed's subordinate voting shares and not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are not guarantees of future performance and, while forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions that Lightspeed considers reasonable, actual events and results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements made by Lightspeed. Except as may be expressly required by applicable law, Lightspeed does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Article content Article content Article content Article content
The Independent
18-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Redefining retail security: how to empower people while protecting profits
Toshiba is a Business Reporter client Modern loss prevention is key to operational excellence – driving store performance, associate engagement and shopper trust in retail. Today's retailers are navigating a complex environment where they must find a balance between agility, profitability and rising customer expectations. Key to this is balancing responsiveness with resilience – and at the centre of this balance is modern loss prevention (LP). LP is more vital than ever to support store performance, associate engagement and shopper trust. According to the Incisiv 2025 State of the Industry: Store Innovation report, 50 per cent of retailers plan to explore AI-driven LP systems within the next year. 75 per cent expect a reduction in shrinkage, and 79 per cent anticipate better inventory accuracy. These numbers reflect a shift towards strategic, tech-powered solutions that secure stores while supporting growth. How shrink control fuels innovation Shrink remains one of retail's most stubborn and costly challenges. Whether from theft, human error or operational inefficiencies, shrink directly eats into profits and limits a retailer's ability to invest in the future. But with effective LP, shrink transforms from a problem to manage to a gateway to progress. When LP systems reduce shrink, the financial benefits go straight to the bottom line. This improved profitability opens doors to reinvest in the business to enhance store operations, upgrade technology and elevate customer and associate experiences. Accurate inventory data powered by modern LP solutions enables better merchandising decisions, reduces waste and improves order fulfilment. Ultimately, protecting profits goes beyond minimising loss to driving what comes next. A new approach to loss prevention Loss prevention is evolving into a proactive, customer-first strategy that enhances the retail experience. Traditional methods to stop cases of shrink such as surveillance and security tags are giving way to intelligent systems that guide checkout behaviours, support associates and strengthen trust. A key focus area for loss prevention is the checkout area. Customers expect speed and ease, while retailers need assurance that transactions are accurate. LP tools must work quietly in the background to ensure both outcomes without disrupting the shopping experience. Loss prevention today is about maximising value and delivering trust, speed and an exceptional shopping journey. When done right, it strengthens everything, from associate and customer satisfaction to store operations and inventory accuracy. Supporting associates, improving outcomes In today's retail environment, frontline associates serve as brand ambassadors, problem solvers and the first line of defence in delivering a safe and smooth customer experience. But when store associates are saddled with outdated or intrusive loss prevention systems, this can create unnecessary stress, burnout and high turnover. Innovative AI and computer vision improve security and shopper satisfaction by streamlining the checkout experience. Through intelligent prompts, shoppers have the opportunity to resolve flagged checkout instances on their own without the system pausing and waiting for an associate to intervene and continue. Instead of adding pressure to be on call for every individual checkout flag, associates are supported with intelligent prompts and real-time insights. With the right tools, staff become confident, informed partners who help enhance the customer journey while protecting the business. With an empowered workforce, retailers reduce recruitment and training costs while building a more resilient workforce. These loss prevention systems are designed to work with people, not around them, strengthening the connection between technology and the human touch. Retailers can create a culture of trust, and trust drives performance. The whole store operates better when associates are supported with the right technology. Checkout experience as a key outcome The checkout experience is often a defining moment in the shopping journey for customers. Long lines, unexpected system errors or an awkward security intervention can turn into frustration. Fast, intuitive and secure, checkouts with innovative LP solutions can build shopper trust and confidence to keep them coming back. Toshiba's ELERA® Security Suite makes a powerful difference by combining computer vision and AI to deliver real-time intelligence that enhances speed and accuracy without disrupting the flow of the checkout experience. Produce recognition solutions increase item accuracy, and smart LP alerts address potential fraud scenarios, such as failure to scan an item before bagging, all while maintaining a seamless experience for the customer. With ELERA Security Suite, loss prevention and customer satisfaction work in harmony. Through advanced AI and computer vision, we're building smarter stores where shoppers feel confident and retailers feel in control. Smarter tools for a smarter future Loss prevention must evolve with the customer. Retailers that embrace pairing intelligent tools with empowered store teams are redefining what is possible by building more agile, profitable, and customer-focused operations for the future of retail. It's about predicting, preventing, and executing without sacrificing experience. ELERA Security Suite redefines LP by shifting the focus from reactive enforcement to a proactive, streamlined experience for shoppers while reinforcing operational control and security for staff. By blending automation with human insight, ELERA positions LP as a driver of trust, efficiency and growth in the modern retail landscape. Powered by AI and computer vision, ELERA goes beyond just detecting issues to helping prevent them in real time. This evolution promotes accuracy, supports associates and improves the shopping experience. Advanced recognition capabilities ensure accurate scans, reduce fraud and keep lines moving. Additionally, ELERA's flexible designs can adapt seamlessly across several retail segments, including grocery or speciality stores. The future of loss prevention is predictive, personalised and seamless. LP has evolved into an integrated force driving operational resilience and customer trust. Powered by AI and computer vision, today's LP solutions prevent issues before they happen and adapt in real time while keeping the customer experience smooth and intuitive.
The Sun
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Tesco becomes latest UK supermarket to make major change at self-service checkouts in bid to crackdown on shoplifting
TESCO has become the latest retailer to launch VAR-style replays at self-checkouts – after their rivals successfully used them to stop brazen thefts. A camera above scan-and-go tills records packing actions and uses AI to detect when an item may not have been scanned properly. 2 2 It then shows shoppers an instant replay of themselves failing to scan the products. The move is thought to have already cut some self-checkout thefts at Sainsbury's, where the footy ref aid-inspired cameras were quietly introduced last month. Supermarket bosses believe thieves who can see their illegal actions have been caught red-handed are far more likely to pay for them instead. It is unclear when the kit was added to Tesco tills, but any would-be robbers attempting to take from the stores now see the message: 'The last item wasn't scanned properly. 'Remove from bagging area and try again." If the measure is successful, lock-boxes and security stickers, which are typically reserved for high-value items, could finally be removed from everyday goods like teabags, chocolate and tins of Spam. A retail source said: The early indications are that this is working and it is an effective measure. 'This is different to a live camera because many shoplifters assume nobody is watching. 'If your attempted theft has been clipped up and replayed to you seconds later, you know you might only have two options. 'One is to pay, and the other is to get caught. Watch as defiant Tesco shoppers wait in MASSIVE queue rather than use self-service checkouts 'A great deal of shoplifters simply will keep going, whatever the stores do. 'But it will deter some, and much like Tesco's slogan, every little helps.' In February, Tesco unveiled a specialist security centre at its warehouse in Daventry, Northants, which monitors the unbelievable shoplifting crime wave 24 hours a day. The multi-million pound centre is the beating heart of the retailer's shrink transformation team, who are responsible for hunting Britain's marauding criminals. Security boss Emma Sparrock said: 'Our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our colleagues and customers has never been stronger. 'This move is a symbol of our team's growth, and we're ready to face what lies ahead with a renewed sense of purpose and determination.' A record 516,971 shoplifting incidents were logged by police in 2024 — up from 429,873 in 2023. Yet only a fifth resulted in a charge, while more than half of the investigations ended with no suspect identified. Tom Ironside, of the British Retail Consortium, said shoplifting was costing £2billion a year with rising violence and abuse against staff. A Tesco spokeswoman said: 'We are always looking at technology to make life easier for our customers. "We have recently installed a new system at some stores which helps customers using self-service checkouts identify if an item has not been scanned properly, making the checkout process quicker and easier.' It comes after a huge supermarket chain revealed major changes across its nearly 2,400 stores - but it will leave shoppers divided.
