Who said vending machines were good for just low-dollar candy and pop? Consumers think nothing of purchasing $1,600 luxury designer jewelry — from a vending machine in a park. In the August Unattended Retail Tracker, jewelry designer Marla Aaron explains what it takes to sell high-end jewelry through vending kiosks, and how it helps her skip sky-high NYC storefront rent prices and move her merchandise. Plus, the Tracker explores how vending machines around the world are shaking free of cash, and accepting mobile wallets and cryptocurrency to grow their reach.  Read More...

Sears Holdings is looking to close 46 brick-and-mortar locations under the Sears and Kmart banners. At the same time, Target is expanding its curbside pickup program, and TJX has pulled off another quarter of growing customer traffic. Take a look at some of the reasons Sears has faced challenges – and how TJX is attracting shoppers to its stores.  Read More...

Whether one is a consumer shipping a loan, a vendor managing a supply chain or a merchant trying to easily accept payment, inefficiency is the killer of all progress. That’s the bad news. The better news? Where there’s a stumbling block these days, there is also likely an entrepreneur looking to fix it.  Read More...