RETAIL NEWS

VR. AR. AI… Oh my.

There is no question how much technology is changing not only the way retailers and brands engage consumers during the pre, during and post phases of the shopping experience, and reshaping the path to purchase, but also how brands bring new innovation to the market and rethink how products are merchandised online and in store.

Below, DSN outlines the big trends, predictions and critical issues that will make the news in 2017 and beyond.

1. VR takes over

From the hot color segments to new product launches, here is what you need to know about the beauty business in 2017.

(To view the full Beauty Trends Report, click here.)

Mass market color cosmetics sales continue to climb, driven primarily by adventurous millennials.

CHICAGO — Walgreens Boots Alliance is piloting a retail vision care center at one Walgreens location within its flagship Magnificent Mile store in the Wrigley Building here, the company recently revealed, taking what has been a successful page out of its U.K.-based Boots Pharmacy division and applying that strategy to the U.S. market.

LOS ANGELES — Petnostics, manufacturer of the first at-home urine test for pets, announced its product line is available at all 230 Meijer locations throughout the country.

The company’s smart urine test kits, test strips and accessories allow pet owners to check their dog or cat’s health instantly via their iPhone or Android phone.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Shopko customers donated hundreds of pounds of food for Feeding America and thousands of toys for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.

According to Shopko, all food items were distributed to community food pantries prior to Thanksgiving, while toys were donated in time for holiday celebrations. In addition to the food items collected, the Shopko Foundation donated $100,000 to Feeding America to support its network of food banks in Shopko communities across the country.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Federal Trade Commission will rule on the Walgreens Boots Alliance-Rite Aid merger before the Trump Administration takes office on Jan. 20, according to the New York Post. The newspaper added approval of the transaction is “not guaranteed.”

“It is most likely [FTC] Chairwoman Edith Ramirez addresses it before she leaves,” a source close to the situation told the news outlet, and not leave it to a Republican-led FTC.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Fred’s Pharmacy on Tuesday adopted a shareholder rights plan, often called a “poison pill,” in an effort to prevent an outside entity from acquiring a majority stake of the retailer.

This initiative was put in place after Alden Global Capital acquired approximately one-quarter of the company’s outstanding shares in just a one-month period from later November to late December.