We make it easy for you to keep up to date with what's happening in the world of retail. Check out what we are reading this month and why.
Next Gen Pick Up - OPIE
This is so obvious it's unreal. A new startup, OPIE in South Carolina is re-defining online grocery pickup. It's a drive-thru only grocery store. It doesn't reply on customers scheduling pick-up slots ahead of time, no minimum order and no pickup fees.
Reality bites - Mesa Airlines partners with Flirtey to launch UAV delivery service
We knew it would actually come and it has. Drone delivery company Flirty, through its partnership with Mesa Airlines is the first scheduled service to provide on-demand UAV delivery. The focus? Food. Commercial drone deliveries will provide the last-mile advantage but in an ecosystem that enables operational excellence, data collection and most importantly, safety.
Tesla's real-time car insurance offers flexibility based on driving behaviour
Jeez Louise. This is an incredible innovation but not sure I want it! A new insurance product has just been launched by Tesla in Texas. By using specific features within the vehicle your premiums are evaluated based on your actual driving behaviour. Your monthly payments are adjusted accordingly. Eeek! But double thumbs up to Tesla.
Amazon Local Selling pickup & delivery
Amazon has launched a suite of services called Local Selling, to better serve customers. The service supports SME businesses who sell products on Amazon to offer in-store pickup and fast delivery from their own physical retail stores, rather than relying on Amazon’s distribution network. This is seen as a major opportunity for SMEs to better serve their customers by taking advantage of their own physical footprint to speed up the process of getting packages to customers' doorsteps.
Moncler pop-up in the comfort of your own home
Moncler through their partnership with Mytheresa has introduced the brand's new womenswear and menswear collections via a 360° virtual pop-up experience. The pop-up experience is rich with detailed descriptions about each item allowing you to purchase them directly from the online display. Moncler believes that this will help expand their reach beyond physical stores, as it will allow customers who cannot visit an opportunity to connect wherever they are.
ICYMI - A quick recap of important things that happened which you might have missed
WOOLWORTHS ONLINE MARKETPLACE GOES AUSSIE- WIDE TO COMPETE WITH AMAZON
Make sure you watch how this performs as I anticipate this rolling into NZ if it proves successful. READ MORE
MOSH
Mosh Social Media’s 2021 New Zealand Facebook and Instagram Report has revealed the social strategies behind top Kiwi retail brands. Celebrating Kiwi-owned brands that are leading online social media presence and engagement including Stolen Girlfriends Club, Glassons, Checks Downtown, Icebreaker and Kathmandu are broken down in the report. The Warehouse Group is featured with over 259,981 Facebook Page likes as well as Mighty Ape, whose fan-first approach to social media has gained the Page over 400,533 likes.
BRANDED VIRTUAL WORLDS
This is one you have to get your head around as they are here to stay. It will be a key component of branding and ecommerce as we move ahead. Gucci and Vans are there are seeing the success and now we see the likes of Hyundai and Netflix entering the arena. Gen Z are going to drive this growth and there are retail opportunities to be had. If you get it right.
RETAIL CLOSES ON BOXING DAY
Sainsburys, Morrisons, Waitrose, Marks & Spencer, Argo and Habitat stores have said they will shut their stores on December 26th as a “thank you” to its teams. Let's be frank. I think we need more days with bricks & mortar closed so people can spend some real time with their families rather than rushing back to work. I know Rod Duke and other CEO's won't agree with me but really, do we need to be always on? I can chat about this for hours and I know it's going to get me all hell and fury. The world is a challenging place and holidays should be enjoyed. Together. Especially after the past 12 months
SALARY GUIDE AND MARKET INSIGHTS
In case you missed it, our great mates at RetailWorld Resourcing recently published their 2021 Market Insights and Salary Guide. Not only does it cover a range of retail salaries it also covers what motivates today's job seekers and the things that matter most to them. You'll find information like how long candidates are willing to commute for and the benefits they find most enticing. With the market for talent so tight, this guide will strengthen your arsenal when it comes to attracting and retaining talent in your team.
COLES (OZ) TO STOCK ANTIGEN KITS IN STORE FROM NEXT WEEK
Until now, rapid antigen testing has not been made available for use by the general public in Australia, instead confined to use within business and health environments. That's about to change, but who will lead the charge here in NZ.
MUPPET RETAILER OF THE MONTH - SAFETY WAREHOUSE
Apologies, but seriously, you'd have to be a muppet to not realise this was a stupid idea likely to cause customer anger and outrage. Well I think it's obvious and I reckon these guys were seriously trying it on. But never, ever, ever do a promo like this.
MODERN SLAVERY IS A THING. RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN BACKYARD
I wasn't aware of the extent of modern slavery in our own backyard. Next edition we will speak with Cam Bower from MERF around the situation in NZ and what kiwi retailers need to be aware and proactive about?