🤖 Microsoft unveils AI for retailers

Plus layoffs from Amazon and Google, Ram recalls, and more.

Greetings from the Retailist team! As we look ahead to 2024 the e-commerce, retail, and Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) world shows no signs of slowing down. We've seen a range of key news, developing trends, and unique stories from the world of retail over the last week. Dive in to explore the top stories:

Retailist 2024 Power Player Awards 

🔥 Application opportunities will soon open for the Retailist 2024 Power Player Awards! Sign up to be notified and find details on submission requirements here.

New from Retailist

Auctions, Virtual Tours, and Authenticity: The Rise of Live-commerce in Real Estate

Live commerce is a natural medium for the real estate industry, as buyers are always on the lookout for discounts and can spend hours researching, window shopping, and discussing.

Have an exclusive scoop on a retail story? Click here to email our team.

In the news: Top headlines this week

Social media will continue to dominate e-commerce in 2024: Retail technology consultants have predicted that social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok will increasingly dominate e-commerce, particularly among younger consumers. This shift is attributed to the influence of social media influencers and the use of artificial intelligence by these platforms​​. [MarketScreener]

Amazon and Google announce layoffs: Both Amazon and Google have announced significant layoffs as part of their strategy to adjust to post-pandemic market realities​​. [Yahoo]

Microsoft unveils generative AI solutions for retailers: Microsoft has announced new AI and data solutions for the retail industry, focusing on improving productivity and customer experiences for store associates and managers using generative AI technologies​​. [Microsoft]

Abercrombie, Lululemon, and American Eagle raise holiday sales outlooks: Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle Outfitters, and Lululemon have all raised their fiscal fourth-quarter outlooks, reflecting strong performances during the holiday season. These results are giving investors a better understanding of which companies were most successful in attracting holiday shoppers. [CNBC]

600,000 Ram trucks to be recalled due to emissions cheating scandal: Cummins Inc. has agreed to recall and repair 600,000 Ram trucks as part of a settlement in a diesel emissions cheating scandal, as announced by the Justice Department and California officials on Wednesday. The company faced accusations of using emissions control software to bypass emissions tests. [NPR]

Amazon plans to bring cashierless checkout to hospitals: Amazon will begin introducing its Just Walk Out cashierless technology to healthcare settings, including hospitals. The new iteration of this technology will allow hospital employees to pay using their work badges. The deployment of the program will begin at St. Joseph's/Candler Hospital in Savannah, Georgia. [CNBC]

Job Board: This week’s Top Openings in DTC, RetailTech, and more

Want to submit a role to our talent board? Email [email protected].

  • Senior Buyer, Collectibles (San Francisco, CA) Crunchyroll - more here

  • Senior Data Analyst, Marketing (Seattle, WA) Remitly - more here

  • Merchandise Planning Manager (San Francisco, CA) GoPuff - more here

  • Sr. Director, HR Technology and Solutions (New York, NY) Tapestry - more here

  • Paid Search/SEM Specialist (Needham, MA) SharkNinja - more here

✈️ Upcoming Industry Events

ABOUT RETAILIST

Retailist Magazine is an outlet focused on modern commerce as it relates to digital innovation. The publication examines our culture’s ever-evolving relationship with marketing, commerce and traditional retail. Our goal is to connect our audience to quality content and award programs for retail brands to tell their story of innovation.

These experts stand at the helm of their niche in retail and provide readers with real-time, trending insights to ensure you remain on the bleeding edge of commerce innovation. Contributing thought leaders include C-suite executives from Hubspot, Wix, Printful, Global-e, Zapaygo, TradeGala, Birdie, Inurface Media, and more.