Amazon Go - New Brick & Mortar for the Information Age

Here we go.

Mobile first, mobile only.  Yes?  You bet.

You have to have a smart phone with you, the Amazon Go mobile app installed, to even get in the store.  No checkout, no lines, just grab and go.

The future of retail?

Some folks thought there was no end to the Amazon eCommerce model.  Nope.  They have limitations just like anyone, but those of us who thought a simple, traditional retail version of Amazon was the answer were quite likely wrong.  Amazon recognizes they need physical stores just like everyone, but they have no desire to put in place the same style of physical store as everyone else.

Check it out.

Here is the official Amazon entry for this, worth watching the video just to get a good view at what they are up to:

https://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=16008589011

Here is one attempt to get inside the store:

http://arstechnica.com/business/2016/12/trying-and-failing-to-sneak-into-amazons-skynet-take-on-grocery-shopping/

Here is a snippet from that piece:

Amazon's foray into the world of brick-and-mortar grocery shopping has been all but confirmed for nearly a year thanks to leaks such as spotted permit applications. The rumor became reality on Monday with the announcement of Amazon Go, an experiment in grocery shopping that removes the clerks.

This is not just another idle announcement, either: the company's pilot store is now open for business. It's attached to one of Amazon's headquarter buildings in Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood and is already stocked with food options (and a giant staff of cooks and food preparers). There's just one catch—only full-time "blue badge" Amazon staffers can get in right now.

Never one to take "no" for an answer, I grabbed a camera and walked up to the front door...

More?

The MorningNewsBeat guy has it covered well as usual:

http://www.morningnewsbeat.com/News/Detail/50915/2016-12-06/

Wondering where all of the middle-class jobs are going in the United States?  Blame tech.  Notice, there isn't anyone actually working at this store, really, is there?

Oh, do you think every executive at every Supermarket chain in the world is taking notice of this?  You bet.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

USB Killer

Find a random thumb drive, USB storage device, plug it in to your laptop to see what is on it, your laptop gets fried.

Yeap.

Physical attacks through physical security hacks.  Pretty interesting and these are being mass produced for a few bucks.

Rule: Don't pick up USB drives you find lying around and never plug one in to a device you care about unless you know it or the owner.

Here is a quick note on this:

https://hardware.slashdot.org//the-usb-kille

Here is the original story on Ars:

http://arstechnica.co.uk/security/2015/10/usb-killer-flash-drive-can-fry-your-computers-innards-in-seconds/

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Amazon Marketplace

I've written a couple times how much I enjoy the MorningNewsBeat blog so it should come as no surprise he is up with some more content I find worth sharing.

Did you know an entire ecosystem of companies have sprung up to help you sell on Amazon?  I didn't realize it was nearly as extensive as it is.

Enjoy this innovation conversation:

http://www.morningnewsbeat.com/News/Detail/50870/2016-11-30/

Here is a snippet from the piece:



Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

The TV Revolution

The changes to how we receive and view our video content continues.

This is a bit of news from AT&T on their new digital service, bypassing cable TV.

http://www.recode.net/2016/11/29/13772672/directv-now-streaming-tv-competition

Here is a snippet from that:

AT&T finally took the wraps off DirecTV Now, its new streaming TV service, and it’s just what it said it was going to be: The base package, for now, is $35 a month for more than 100 channels.

That’s a lot cheaper than a traditional pay TV service — and a lot cheaper than DirecTV’s own satellite TV service.

Of course, there are strings attached. Or more precisely, there are things that aren’t attached to DirecTV Now.

The world she is a-changing isn't she?

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Free Wi-Fi In Store

Compelling argument for retailers to offer free WiFi in their stores.

https://econsultancy.com/blog/68560-five-compelling-reasons-to-offer-free-wi-fi-in-store/

Here is a snippet from the piece:

According to research, more than 90% of consumers now use their smartphone while shopping in-store.

So, first and foremost, that is a huge percentage of people walking through the door that a retailer could potentially target.

If a store does not have Wi-Fi, I doubt it would impact the customer’s perception too negatively.

But on the flip side, customers are much more likely to have a positive response towards those that do.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Black Friday 2016

The news is starting to come in from the big turkey day shopping season and things are looking increasingly mobile.

Couple headlines for you, and I may add to these later.

First up is the decline of in-store sales this year:

http://www.mytotalretail.com/article/store-shopping-holiday-weekend/

Here is a snippet from that piece:

According to the National Retail Federation, 99.1 million people said they shopped in stores this past holiday weekend, which is down 3 million from last year. Of the four-day weekend, Black Friday was the most popular day to go shopping — 75 percent of the 99 million shopped on Black Friday, up 3.4 percent from last year. And despite Thanksgiving Eve doorbusters, that day only barely outpaced Sunday in terms of in-store traffic. About 40 percent of brick-and-mortar consumers ventured out on Saturday, 35 percent on Thanksgiving and 17 percent on Sunday, the data found.

Next is the increase in online sales this year:

http://www.mytotalretail.com/article/black-friday-thanksgiving-online-shopping-surpasses-5-billion-first-time/

Here is a snippet from that piece:

Adobe today released its 2016 online shopping data for Black Friday and Thanksgiving Day. More than $5 billion ($5.27 billion) was spent online by the end of Black Friday, a 17.7 percent increase year-over-year, according to data released by Adobe Digital Insights over the weekend. The $5.27 billion set a new record by surpassing the three-billion-dollar mark for the first time at $3.34 billion (21.6 percent growth YoY). Thanksgiving accounted for the remaining $1.93 billion, 11.5 percent more than in 2015 (but slightly lower than the $2 billion anticipated.) In addition, Black Friday became the first day in retail history to drive over $1 billion in mobile revenue at $1.2 billion, a 33 percent growth YoY.

So what's going on?  Seems obvious to me.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Walgreens Has Beacons in its Mobile App

Want to talk to your customers as they walk through your store?

Walgreens has figured out the way.

Read on:

http://www.businessinsider.com/walgreens-latest-mobile-app-update-pushes-beacons-to-shoppers-2016-11

Here is a snippet from that piece:

Walgreens' latest mobile app update includes an increase in beacon-enabled deals and coupons, reports GeoMarketing.

The company has been testing beacons in its Duane Reade locations since February to push mobile coupons and promotions. And while Walgreens is well poised to see a lift in sales due to such tools, the company has some significant consumer concerns to overcome before adoption spreads.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant