Matt Schmitt

I think they are being very focused and methodical. Finding out what works and optimizing based on lessons learned works better than rolling out a lot of stores and then finding out they missed the mark.

Retailers are increasing efficiencies and saving on labor costs with self-checkout. Video and other technologies are less intrusive and disturbing than associates watching like a hawk and policing for theft. It's unnerving and a bad experience to the vast majority of loyal customers who aren't stealing to be given...

Consumer demand will ultimately drive what happens with health care services at retail. Convenience and access are big attractions, and will probably prove to show good results at achieving better preventive care and early detection of health problems. The convenience of more local clinics and health care services, combined...

Another question for the list might be to find out what they think of personalized, recommendation engine offers and promotions versus circle of influence and aggregated recommendations and "likes." Is one better than the other? Does it depend on the category/product/service? Or do the two work hand in hand...

The thing I question with this effort is whether "likes" are what influence shopper behavior. When looking at clothing in particular, aren't shoppers trying to find their own personal look and what works for them as an individual? Using technology solutions should provide value to the shopper based on...

I think it may ultimately be more harmful than helpful to video aggregators and streaming service providers to get into the original content production business. While they may indeed find some success with the occasional hit, there's no doubt it can be detrimental to their relationships and negotiations with...

The use of dead celebrities will probably pick up even more steam. Using likeness in packaging and merchandising promotions is one thing, but the advances in technology surface many new ways to leverage the celebrity "presence." Take the recent Coachella Festival concert performance by a Tupac Shakur hologram. If...

Makes sense. If Target only benefited from the initial sale of the device, then that's a short-term gain with nothing down the road. Amazon's big benefit doesn't come from the device sale. That's simply a razor to sell razor blades (content and subscription services). If Amazon was offering physical...

Self-serve vending retail solutions have obviously gained a lot of traction in airports (Best Buy Express, etc) and part of the appeal is instant gratification with the physical items being available to buy on the fly. Providing digital experiences to promote online, ship-to-consumer sales is a bit trickier. This...

Gamification approaches to loyalty and promotional programs offer significant opportunity to increase engagement and participation. The keys here will be focusing on asking two questions about the tactical methods -- "Is it fun?" and "Is there a real benefit or offer?" It may not require a yes to both...