Target Names COO, Chief Merchant
Target announced a major C‑suite overhaul, appointing Lisa Roath as chief operating officer and consolidating merchandising leadership under Cara Sylvester. The restructuring eliminates the chief commercial officer role, sees Rick Gomez move to an advisory position, and marks the retirement of long‑time merchandising chief Jill Sando. The changes align with CEO Michael Fiddelke’s turnaround plan and preserve the company’s low‑single‑digit sales‑decline guidance for Q4. New board members John Hoke and Steve Bratspies join, emphasizing design and operational expertise.
Toast Links Dining to Instacart’s Marketplace; Ingenico Launches Its 360 Platform Plus AXIUM Terminals
Toast announced a partnership with Instacart, linking its restaurant platform to the Instacart Marketplace and making Instacart Business available for same‑day grocery procurement. The integration adds SmartScan barcode optimization and catalog attribution tools, enabling restaurants to quickly add items and...
Pinterest’s Kate Hamill on Visual Search, AI, and the New Path to Purchase
Pinterest is shifting from a pure inspiration platform to a measurable commerce driver, according to VP of North America enterprise sales Kate Hamill. The company is leveraging visual search and AI to compress the funnel between discovery and conversion, enabling...
Square Offers Its AI Assistant to UK Merchants
Square has launched its conversational AI assistant, Square AI, for merchants in the United Kingdom, embedding the tool directly into its payments and commerce platform. The assistant blends in‑house transaction data with external signals such as weather, events and news...
71% of Consumers Say Viral Trends Drive Purchases, Putting New Pressure on Retail Fulfillment, Finds Locus Robotics
Locus Robotics released a U.S. consumer study showing 71% of shoppers say viral TikTok or Instagram trends drive their purchases. The research finds demand can materialize within 48 hours, forcing brands, retailers and 3PLs to compress planning and rely on...
Bots Are Taking Over the Web. Why that May Not Be a Bad Thing for Retail Marketers
WP Engine’s 2025 Website Traffic Trends Report shows bots now generate roughly one‑third of all web requests, with AI‑driven agents consuming up to 70% of the most expensive dynamic resources. Retail marketers must therefore optimize for two audiences: human shoppers...
How Payment Gateways for Businesses Can Help You Offer Your Customers More Options
The episode explains how modern payment gateways, especially Authorize.net, enable small and mid‑size businesses to accept a wide array of payment methods—from cards and eChecks to digital wallets and contactless options—through a single, integrated solution that often includes a merchant...
Lidl Germany Lets Shoppers Pay by SEPA Bank Transfer — A Quiet Break From Visa & Mastercard Dominance
Lidl Germany has introduced SEPA bank‑transfer as a checkout option, allowing shoppers to pay directly from their bank accounts. The move sidesteps traditional Visa and Mastercard processing, which dominate European retail payments. By leveraging the Euro‑area’s low‑cost SEPA network, Lidl...
Jumia’s Q4 2025 Revenue Jumps 34% to $61.4 Million
Jumia reported Q4 2025 revenue of $61.4 million, a 34% year‑over‑year rise driven by a booming marketplace segment. Gross profit jumped 43% and operating loss narrowed to $10.6 million, reflecting stronger margins and tighter cost control. The company’s GMV climbed 36% to $279.5 million,...
Building a Geo-Targeted Proxy Infrastructure for Global Price Intelligence
Enterprises that rely on price intelligence must see prices exactly as local shoppers do, making geo‑targeted data collection essential. Generic proxies often deliver low‑reputation IPs, unstable sessions, or leaked locations, leading to blocked or distorted pricing data. A purpose‑built proxy...
Sales of Fresh Flowers Surge on TikTok Shop Ahead of Valentine’s Day
TikTok Shop’s flowers and gardening category posted a 440% year‑on‑year surge, driven by a 75% increase in LIVE shopping sessions. Independent UK florist Oh So Floral saw orders jump 85% in the fortnight before Valentine’s Day and will host over 50 hours of...
Dunelm Posts Solid H1 Despite Softer Second Quarter
Dunelm reported a solid first‑half FY26, with total sales climbing 3.6% year‑on‑year to £926 million and digital participation rising to 41%, outpacing the broader homewares market. Market share edged up 20 basis points to 7.9%. The second quarter was softer, with...
Ask an Expert: Should Merchants Block AI Bots?
E‑commerce veteran Scot Wingo argues that merchants must decide whether to block or welcome AI bots that now crawl retail sites. Four major agents—ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot and Perplexity—collectively command roughly one billion monthly active users, and Google’s shift to AI...
Amazon Launches Pay by Bank – Secure, Card-Free Payment Solution
Amazon has introduced Pay by Bank on its UK site, letting shoppers pay directly from their bank accounts without using cards. The service connects to customers' banking apps for biometric or PIN authentication, eliminating the need to store card details....
Polygon Labs Perspective on Stablecoin Economics: Interview With CEO Marc Boiron
Polygon Labs is positioning its blockchain platform as a next‑generation payment rail that can seamlessly move money across fiat and crypto ecosystems. In an interview, CEO Marc Boiron explains how the company’s stablecoin framework aims to address legacy finance pain...
Marketplacer Powers EE Trade-In Capability via Marketplace Returns Flow
EE, a major UK mobile network, has integrated device trade‑in directly into its digital purchase flow using Marketplacer’s marketplace platform. By adapting its existing returns workflow, EE launched a low‑risk, scalable solution covering six device categories with instant trade‑in quotes...
Jollyes Launches ‘Lowest Price Pet Brand in the UK’
Jollyes Pets has introduced Simply Jollyes, the UK's lowest‑priced own‑label pet range, covering food and accessories for dogs, cats, small pets and birds. The line launches with 22 products and will be stocked in all 118 Jollyes stores this month,...
2026’s Digital Blueprint: Building Payment Stability in Construction
Late payments remain a chronic issue in construction, with 70% of contractors and subcontractors reporting regular delays that inflate costs and jeopardize projects. The financial strain forces firms to increase bids by roughly 8% and pushes material prices up by...
Payments Orchestration Becomes a Profit Center
Payments orchestration, once a back‑office utility, is now being positioned as a profit center for merchants. By inserting a control layer between merchants and multiple acquirers, processors and wallets, the technology enables real‑time routing decisions that optimize cost, authorization rates...
Why Game-Day Revenue Doesn’t Mean Same-Day Cash
Professional sports teams generate massive game‑day revenue, but cash arrives days or weeks later, creating a structural mismatch between inflows and outflows. Immediate expenses—player payroll, travel, security—must be paid upfront while ticket, merchandise, and media earnings settle on staggered schedules....
Nearly 3 in 4 Premium Cardholders Used a Card-Linked Offer in the Past Year
A PYMNTS Intelligence survey of 3,066 U.S. consumers reveals that premium credit‑card holders—those paying annual fees above $100—are the most engaged segment, with 74% redeeming at least one card‑linked offer in the past year. By contrast, only 32% of free‑card...
Mastercard Tightens Rules for BIN Sponsors That Support FinTech Card Issuers
Mastercard has introduced BIN Sponsor Plus, an accreditation program for UK Bank Identification Number sponsors that enable fintechs to issue cards. The initiative formalizes higher standards for training, due diligence and operational rigor, while offering accredited sponsors dedicated Mastercard support....
Is Agentic Commerce Enterprise-Grade, or Not? Yes, Says Ayal Karmi - but It Needs Operational Rails
In early 2026 OpenAI and Google introduced the Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP) and Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), formalising AI‑driven checkout standards. nekuda positions itself as the enterprise‑grade bridge, providing secure payment rails that connect these protocols to merchant back‑ends. The...
emlrn.com Redefines Customer Support Outsourcing Through Brand-First Execution
emlrn limited is reshaping outsourced customer support by making brand alignment the core of its service model. Targeting e‑commerce, SaaS, fintech and other tech firms, the company delivers 24/7 omnichannel assistance that mirrors each client’s tone and processes. Structured onboarding...
Wakefit Posts Rs 421 Cr Revenue and Rs 32 Cr Profit in Q3 FY26
Wakefit reported Q3 FY26 revenue of Rs 421 crore, a 9% year‑on‑year increase, and posted a profit of Rs 32 crore after a loss in the same quarter last year. Other income contributed Rs 11 crore, lifting total income to Rs 432 crore. For the nine‑month period ending...
Truth & Hair Raises Rs 2.5 Cr From Varun Alagh on Shark Tank India
Truth & Hair secured Rs 2.5 crore investment from Varun Alagh after its Shark Tank India appearance. The capital will be allocated to product innovation, marketing, and building an omnichannel retail and digital footprint. The brand, founded by Saumya Alagh and Shailesh...
GARAGE Launches U.K. E-Commerce as Part of International Expansion
GARAGE, the Montreal‑based women’s apparel brand, has launched a dedicated e‑commerce platform for the United Kingdom, offering shipping to all four nations. The digital rollout precedes the opening of its first physical stores on London’s Oxford Street and at Bluewater...
This Valentine’s Day, Perfume Is Playing Matchmaker
Perfume houses are leveraging Valentine's Day to launch romance‑focused collections and experiential campaigns, positioning scent as a modern matchmaking tool. LVMH announced the appointment of a new chief executive to lead its beauty division, signaling strategic emphasis on luxury fragrance...
Confessions of a Former Saks Designer: ‘If Your Retail Partner Is Knocking You Off, That’s a Red Flag’
Former Saks Fifth Avenue designer Hadley Pollet left the department‑store partnership in 2018 after witnessing buyers request cheap copies of luxury designs and a shift toward an asset‑light, drop‑shipping model. Saks later filed Chapter 11, leaving many boutique vendors uncertain about...
Brands Lean Into Grand Gestures This Valentine’s Day
Brands are turning to grand‑gesture promotions to cut through the clutter of Valentine’s Day advertising. Venus et Fleur revived its 10‑foot floral pop‑up trucks in major cities, offering a $5,000 influencer prize. Brilliant Earth introduced hyper‑personalized showroom date‑night experiences in...
Seoul-Born Borntostandout Aims to Be ‘the Craziest’ Fragrance Brand in Sephora
Seoul‑born fragrance house Borntostandout is set to debut on Sephora’s digital platform on Feb 24 and in physical stores on March 13, offering eleven scents ranging from $85 to $290. Founder Jun Lim, who self‑funded the brand after a career in investment...
Coupang Obstructed Korean Probe Into Data Breach, Ministry Says
Coupang, South Korea’s largest e‑commerce platform, obstructed a government investigation into a massive data breach by deleting access logs and other evidence. The Ministry of Science and ICT reports that a former staff engineer exfiltrated 25.6 terabytes of personal information, affecting...
Bose-Funded Noise Revenue Declines 24% to Rs 1,048 Cr in FY25
Noise, the Bose‑backed Indian wearables brand, reported FY25 revenue of Rs 1,048 crore, a 24% drop from the prior year. Operating expenses fell 25% to Rs 1,067 crore, aligning with the revenue contraction. A deferred tax benefit of Rs 47 crore pushed the...
Canadian Apparel Market Rebounded Strongly in 2025
Canadian apparel sales are projected to grow about 8.5% in 2025, erasing the 2.8% decline recorded in 2024. The rebound is anchored by a pronounced consumer shift toward value, fueling a 16.7% surge in resale apparel. Retailers that excelled in...
How an Indie Bridal Brand Earned a Major Marketing Moment at the Super Bowl
Indie bridal designer Hayley Paige secured a surprise fashion moment when her "Becoming Jane" wedding dress was worn during Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show. The exposure came just six months after she regained control of her eponymous brand following...
35% of Consumers Plan to Use Tax Refunds to Boost Savings
Tax season is underway and refunds are already hitting consumer accounts, with 56% of filers receiving a lump‑sum payment. New PYMNTS Intelligence data shows that 35% of those consumers intend to boost their savings, while the majority plan to use...
1-800-Flowers.com Announces Instacart Partnership Ahead of Valentine’s Day
1-800-Flowers.com has teamed with Instacart to ship fresh bouquets for Valentine’s Day, launching pre‑orders on Feb 9 with delivery windows up to five days in advance and on‑demand options for last‑minute shoppers. The integration places more than 700 florist locations on...
Tired of Typing Card Numbers? E-Money Is the Fix Mobile Users Actually Want
Credit and debit cards were built for physical point‑of‑sale, not for mobile screens, and typing 16‑digit numbers on a phone creates friction that drives cart abandonment. E‑money services, exemplified by Jeton Cash, offer a prepaid, card‑free model where users top...
Google and Entrust Team to Combat Identity Fraud
Identity verification firm Entrust has announced a strategic partnership with Google Cloud to launch an AI‑powered solution that tackles rising identity fraud. The joint offering combines Entrust’s verification platform and fraud intelligence with Google’s Gemini AI models, threat intelligence, and...
Monzo Tops UK Banks for Wrongly Denying Scam Refunds in 2025, Ombudsman Data Shows
The Financial Ombudsman Service released 2025 data showing Monzo led UK banks in overturned fraud‑refund decisions. Of the 3,372 scam‑related complaints referred, Monzo incorrectly denied refunds in 34% of cases, the highest rejection rate among major lenders. The findings highlight...
How Website Downtime Monitoring Protects Your Revenue and SEO
Website downtime directly erodes revenue, wastes ad spend, and harms SEO. Even brief outages can prevent customers from completing purchases, drain marketing budgets, and generate crawl errors that lower search rankings. Implementing real‑time downtime monitoring provides instant alerts, enabling rapid...
Germany Plans to Eliminate Checks Entirely by 2027
The episode examines Germany’s plan to shut down all paper check processing by the end of 2027, highlighting the dramatic drop from 75 million checks in 2007 to just 2 million in 2024, now representing only 0.01% of cashless payments. It attributes...
In an Era of Accountability, Third-Party Measurement Is Retail Media Networks’ Biggest Asset, Not Enemy
Retail media networks (RMNs) are facing budget pressures, making accountability essential. Brands increasingly demand third‑party measurement to validate incremental sales, visits, and ROAS across channels. Independent metrics reveal the “halo effect,” capturing off‑premise purchases that in‑house reporting misses. By embracing...
Arrow Electronics: AI Is Reshaping How Customers Design, Buy and Deploy Technology
Arrow Electronics reported a strong Q4 2025, with sales climbing 20% to $8.746 billion and net income nearly doubling to $195 million. Full‑year revenue reached $30.85 billion, up 10%, while net income rose 46% to $571 million. Executives said AI, edge computing and data‑center...
Anta Plots First US Flagship
Chinese sportswear group Anta announced the opening of its first U.S. flagship store in Beverly Hills, a 3,000‑square‑foot “brand hub” slated to open Friday. The launch follows Anta Sports’ recent acquisition of roughly a 29% stake in German brand Puma...
Retail’s Hidden AI Blind Spot
Artificial intelligence has moved from experiment to consumer expectation in retail, with AI agents, search, and checkout now standard features. However, MIT research shows 95% of generative AI pilots fail because of fragmented product data, leading to poor recommendations. Inaccurate...
Eddie Bauer Files for Bankruptcy, Begins Winding Down All Stores in the US and Canada
Eddie Bauer’s U.S. and Canadian store operator filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, announcing the closure of 175 of its roughly 220 locations. The business faces a $1.6 million weekly cash outflow with only about $20 million in cash reserves, while liabilities may exceed...
Search to Checkout: How Alphabet Is Building Agentic Commerce
Alphabet announced a $175‑$185 billion AI‑focused capital plan for 2026, positioning artificial intelligence as the backbone of its commerce, cloud and enterprise offerings. The company highlighted intense compute constraints as it scales Gemini, which now handles over 10 billion tokens per minute...
Does Sourcing Diversification Matter in the Age of Tariffs?
Tariff volatility has shifted from a temporary policy tool to a lasting cost driver for apparel and footwear retailers, exposing those overly dependent on a single sourcing region. Diversifying production across multiple geographies is now framed as an agility strategy,...
FinTechs Reshape Middle East Money Movement as Capital Returns
The Middle East is emerging as a fintech hotbed, driven by high smartphone usage, youthful demographics, and state‑backed payment infrastructure. After a global funding slowdown, capital surged back in 2025, with MENA fintech investment climbing 77% to $7.5 billion, 58% of...