Holiday Retail Forecasts and Predictions 2023

For retailers, the holiday season is here. Succeeding in the next few months and into 2024 requires analyzing and understanding shoppers. Here to help retailers strategize, RIS presents our fourth annual guide to peak selling season.

Retail Executives

RIS CIO of the Year 2023

RIS has been bestowing its prestigious CIO of the Year Award for the retail industry’s most influential and innovative technologist for over a decade. This year, we are thrilled to present this award to Seemantini Godbole, CIO of Lowe’s.

In Store Experience

Toy Brand Melissa & Doug Opens First Retail Store

Learn what's inside Melissa & Doug's first-ever retail store.

Virtual Reality
Walmart and Amazon Investing in Virtual Brand Experiences
Walmart’s no stranger to blending the lines of physical and virtual brand experiences, but the company’s just getting started, according to Walmart metaverse executive Thomas Kang.
Awards
Dick’s Executive Chairman Ed Stack Named NRF’s Visionary for 2024
The award presentation will take place at the ninth annual NRF Foundation Honors event on January 14 in New York City. Learn more.
Mobile Apps
Walmart and Panera Bread Introduce New App Features for Streamlined Shopping, Ordering, and Delivery
The new features include single swipe ordering and subscription delivery services. Get the details.

Supply Chain and Merchandising
Sam’s Club MAP Closes the Loop for Advertisers With Media and Sales Performance Dashboard
Walmart-owned Sam's Club has launched the Media and Sales Performance Dashboard, an integrated dashboard that serves as a central source of truth for campaign performance for Sam's Club Member Access Platform (MAP).
Digital Transformation
The Latest Round of Tech Investments From Pacsun, Loblaws, Heinen's, and More
Several major retailers have released investment news this week, focusing on areas such as inventory management to IT infrastructure. Among the companies making significant changes are Pacsun, Loblaw, Heinen, Duluth Trading Company, and Denver’s Choice Market.
Sephora Names Artemis Patrick CEO of North America and Priya Venkatesh Global Chief Merchandising Officer
The company is undergoing a leadership shuffle, naming Artemis Patrick to the role of CEO of North America beginning in April of next year when Jean-André Rougeot retires.
Fulfillment
Albertsons Rolls Out 30-Minute Grocery Pickup and Delivery Service
The grocery retailer has extended its 'Flash' service for rapid pick-up and delivery orders across multiple banner stores.
Artificial Intelligence
Rethinking Personal Shoppers With AI Search
Why don’t retailers fire their old site search engines when there is an AI alternative that will understand which products their customers really want?
Customer Engagement
Stepping Into Success: Viscata’s Data-Fueled Journey To Elevated Customer Experiences
In this conversation with RIS News, Viscata’s operations director, Guillaume Benoit outlines how taking a data-driven approach has allowed the company to improve its handmade products and services, improve return rates, and get closer to the needs of its loyal customer base.
Value Chain
Amazon Taps AI to Expand Sellers’ Ecosystem and Supply Chain Capabilities
Amazon is building out its supply chain services for sellers, offering merchants the ability to distribute products from its warehouses to physical stores and fulfillment centers.
Value Chain
Walmart Extends Express Delivery and Real-Time Texting Hours
Walmart is offering 90-minute or less delivery later, including real-time texting with a personal shopper to discuss substitutions or add last minute items. Learn more.

Fireside Chat: A Fresh Approach to Retail Workforce Management

While it’s no secret that retail has a tough time retaining workers, that doesn’t make the need for top talent any less urgent. In this sponsored fireside chat with RIS, Michael Spataro, chief customer officer at Legion Technologies, outlines some of the ways technology can help retailers to combat attrition and create a working environment where retail associates can thrive.

Watch Now

Holiday Retail Forecasts and Predictions 2023

RIS CIO of the Year 2023

Toy Brand Melissa & Doug Opens First Retail Store

Walmart and Amazon Investing in Virtual Brand Experiences

Dick’s Executive Chairman Ed Stack Named NRF’s Visionary for 2024

Walmart and Panera Bread Introduce New App Features for Streamlined Shopping, Ordering, and Delivery

Sam’s Club MAP Closes the Loop for Advertisers With Media and Sales Performance Dashboard

The Latest Round of Tech Investments From Pacsun, Loblaws, Heinen's, and More

Sephora Names Artemis Patrick CEO of North America and Priya Venkatesh Global Chief Merchandising Officer

Albertsons Rolls Out 30-Minute Grocery Pickup and Delivery Service

Rethinking Personal Shoppers With AI Search

Stepping Into Success: Viscata’s Data-Fueled Journey To Elevated Customer Experiences

Amazon Taps AI to Expand Sellers’ Ecosystem and Supply Chain Capabilities

Walmart Extends Express Delivery and Real-Time Texting Hours

Fireside Chat: A Fresh Approach to Retail Workforce Management

News Briefs

RIS Webinars

2023 Grocery Tech Trends Study: A Balancing Act