Retail AI Council Debuts AI Assistant
On April 16, 2026, the Retail AI Council launched Ask.RetailAICouncil, an AI assistant that delivers retailer‑specific guidance derived from practitioner expertise rather than vendor marketing. The tool helps users research vendors, compare software solutions, draft RFP outlines, and prepare internal stakeholder briefings. Council co‑founder Andy Laudato said the assistant was built for the Council’s own use before being offered to the broader retail community. Monthly “Council Collab” webinars will support member collaboration and shared learning.
How Agentic Ecosystems Are Redefining the Consumer Experience
Agentic AI—multiple AI agents collaborating across a retailer’s systems—is poised to reshape both back‑office operations and the shopper journey. The MACH Alliance 2026 Enterprise Technology Report shows 99% of firms with composable architectures achieve measurable AI outcomes, and 75% of...
Huck’s Market Deploys Tote POS Platform
Huck's Market, a 135‑store Midwest convenience‑store chain, has begun rolling out Tote’s AI‑native point‑of‑sale platform, starting with a pilot in Carmi, Illinois. The system, designed specifically for fuel and convenience retail, promises faster transactions, an intuitive interface, and clearer visibility...
Verizon Hospitality Leader Shares Insight on Eliminating Retail's Phantom Inventory
Verizon’s hospitality strategy leader Katie Riddle explains how phantom inventory—when system data shows stock that isn’t physically present—drives lost sales and erodes loyalty. She identifies legacy batch‑update systems and poor shelf monitoring as root causes. Riddle highlights computer‑vision cameras and...
Lowe’s Debuts Home Maintenance Subscription Program Powered by Store Associates
Lowe’s has launched HomeCare+, a nationwide home‑maintenance subscription powered by its red‑vest store associates. For $99 a year, members receive two visits covering up to seven services such as dryer‑vent cleaning and HVAC filter replacement. The program is exclusive to...
Autonomous Retail Concept Scales up at Circa Resort
VenHub Global Inc. is teaming with Las Vegas‑based Circa Resort & Casino to debut what the partners call the world’s most advanced autonomous smart‑store. The 66‑foot, three‑unit installation will launch this spring, offering 24/7, staff‑free retail powered by AI‑driven robotics...
More Consumers Tapping AI when Looking for a Deal
Nearly 70% of shoppers now turn to AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude to locate discounts, according to the 2026 Shopper Study by XCCommerce and SmartBrief. An even larger 83% say savings and rewards drive loyalty to a...
Customer Experience Horror Stories and How Better Connection Prevents Them
Lisa Orford argues that most retail customer‑experience horror stories stem from disconnected internal systems, not bad intentions. She outlines recurring failures such as vanished requests, endless re‑explanations, channel ping‑pong, and uninformed agents. The piece positions unified communication and real‑time team...
Think Big: New 75-Inch Color ePaper for Digital Out of Home
E Ink has launched a family of 75‑inch color ePaper displays aimed at the digital‑out‑of‑home (DOOH) market. The rollout includes three distinct technology platforms, each offering the hallmark ePaper benefits of ultra‑low power consumption and high sunlight readability. These large‑format...
Toshiba Leader Talks Mobile Device Innovations, Retail Customer Experience Tech
Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions unveiled its TCx M7 handheld alongside the existing TCx M11 tablet, expanding a mobile‑first portfolio aimed at turning any store associate into a portable checkout and service point. The company also promoted its AI‑driven Elera Security Suite, now...
Real Estate Firm Taps Eyefactive for Interactive Touchscreen
Dune Real Estate Partners, a New York‑based luxury property investor, has installed a 55‑inch Taurus Touch Table from eyefactive to deliver immersive, interactive property tours. The touchscreen runs eyefactive’s no‑code software, presenting 360° virtual views, interactive floor plans, and integrated brochures,...
Buc-Ee’s Launching First Ohio Store
Buc‑ee’s, the Texas‑based travel‑stop chain, will open its first Ohio location in Huber Heights on April 6, 2026. The launch marks the brand’s entry into the Midwest after rapid growth in the South and West. It is the first of...
Swipe Fees Hit Record-Setting $198.25B
U.S. merchants paid a record $198.25 billion in credit and debit card swipe fees in 2025, according to the Merchants Payments Coalition. The total represents a 5.9% jump from 2024 and an 80% increase since the pandemic, with fees climbing 219%...
Buc-Ee's Rolling Out Specialty Coffee Vending
Buc‑ees is partnering with Costa Coffee to install automated specialty coffee kiosks at its travel‑center locations across the United States. The self‑service machines deliver barista‑style drinks such as espresso, cappuccino, latte and flat white in roughly 90 seconds via a...
How to Protect Razor-Thin Retail Margins with AI
Retail margins are collapsing, with grocery net margins falling below 1.5%, echoing the 2008 crisis. A recent NVIDIA study shows 89% of retailers using AI report higher revenue and 95% see lower operating costs. AI delivers the strongest returns in...
