Your Weekly Retail Rev Up Newsletter | Volume 16

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TODAY’S PICK 🎯

Is Your Strategy Showing Up in the Field? Inside The Latest Hive Perform Lab Experiment

In sales, strategy rarely dies loudly. It just quietly fails to show up.

Reps nod. Enablement runs a session. Then… silence.

In this month’s Hive Perform Lab, their product team shares a new experiment designed to track if your messaging is actually being used in the field and if buyers care.

You’ll learn:

• Why usage ≠ resonance

• How they are testing USP performance tracking in live deals

• What teams are learning when strategy misses the mark

If you’ve ever launched a new narrative and wondered whether it stuck, this one’s for you.

📣LEADING VOICES 

INDUSTRY NEWS 🌐

Lowes Enhances AI Tools Through Employee Feedback Integration

Lowes is leveraging AI to enhance market share and improve customer and employee experiences as part of its Total Home Strategy. Aligning AI initiatives with stakeholder feedback has been crucial. Regular interactions between engineers and store associates facilitate insights that drive practical tool refinements, enhancing the effectiveness of AI systems. For instance, the Mylow Companion tool, which integrates employee feedback loops, exemplifies how associating voice technology improvements with on-the-floor observations has bolstered its utility in stores.

Strategically implementing AI is seen as essential for productivity and financial success, with Lowes aiming for $1 billion in annual cost savings. Their framework emphasizes leading indicators like adoption rates to predict financial outcomes such as revenue growth. Additionally, a comprehensive AI literacy program ensures all employees, from executives to store associates, are well-equipped to harness AI's potential. The commitment to grounding AI projects in practical and measurable outcomes underscores Lowes' focus on sustainable business transformation.

Social Media Platforms Surpass Google in Product Discovery and Reviews

In modern shopping dynamics, social media platforms like TikTok and Pinterest are redefining how consumers discover products, challenging traditional search engines like Google and Amazon. According to data from PartnerCentric, these platforms are particularly favored by Gen Z for initial product discovery and research. Interestingly, two-thirds of U.S. users turn to Reddit for product reviews, with younger generations prioritizing it over Google. This trend underscores the shift towards more community-driven and interactive shopping experiences.

Significantly, TikTok remains a key player in social commerce, with U.S. consumers spending an average of $40 monthly on TikTok Shop. Despite regulatory uncertainties, TikTok continues to dominate live shopping, surpassing platforms such as QVC and Facebook Live. This evolution highlights the increasing importance of social media in retail, offering brands new avenues for engagement and sales through digital communities and live interactions. Each platform’s unique mechanics present varied opportunities for targeted marketing strategies, reflecting an important shift in eCommerce landscapes.

AI and Robotics Propel Unified Commerce as Vital Retail and eCommerce Shifts

The retail landscape is rapidly evolving, driven by technologies such as AI, robotics, and unified commerce. Industry leaders like Ocado and Alibaba are redefining fulfillment as a brand promise, enhancing speed and accuracy to secure a competitive edge. AI, once considered a buzzword, is now integral to operations; for instance, Klarna uses AI for 25% of customer service interactions, accelerating resolutions and boosting satisfaction.

Investment in AI Essential as UK Retailers Face Ongoing Economic Pressures

In the face of rising economic pressures, UK retailers are advised to invest in technology, including AI, despite the sector's current challenges. A report from EY Parthenon reveals that Q2 2025 saw an increase in profit warnings, attributed to factors like softening consumer demand and geopolitical uncertainty. Retailers are urged to adopt leaner models and digital resilience strategies to remain competitive, focusing on core elements such as range, service, and pricing.

The Retail Technology Innovation Hub underscores AI's transformative role in retail, from personalizing customer experiences to optimizing inventory management. As AI tools become integral to business processes, the new RTIH AI in Retail Awards aim to honor companies effectively utilizing AI for increased efficiency. Such innovation is not optional but necessary, as the interplay of global tariffs and changing consumer behavior reshapes the retail landscape, demanding a scenario-based strategic approach.

Lidl GB Introduces Self-Scanning App Highlighting Commitment to In-Store Experience

Lidl GB is spearheading a transformation in retail with the trial of a self-scanning feature in its Lidl Plus app, reflecting a broader shift toward technological integration in shopping. This new feature allows customers to scan items as they shop, track their spending in real-time, and utilize a faster checkout process. This initiative underscores Lidl's commitment to enhancing consumer convenience and flexibility as part of a larger strategy to revolutionize the in-store experience through technology investments.