Features Retail

He’s never been in a rush to use the latest infotech at Fareway Stores Inc. Shoppers probably wouldn’t like drastic changes at the Midwest grocery chain noted for personalized service, Nathan Kerns tells Toggle in June from headquarters in Boone, Iowa. A member of the tech team for over a dozen years and senior vice […]

After 32 years at Ocean State Job Lot, Hisham Aharon is still finding ways to innovate. When the retail company expanded beyond New England, Aharon, the CIO, and his team, noticed its transportation system was inefficient. Trucks were headed to Pennsylvania full of merchandise and returning empty, which was a waste of time and fuel. […]

The skill sets of music and technology can so complement. So says Marty Ray who’s well-versed at both. Late jazz saxophonist John Coltrane and ill-fated guitar god Stevie Ray Vaughan remain inspirations. Neither virtuoso ever had to look at sheet music, Ray reminds. Artistic passion just flowed through them. An accomplished guitarist in his own […]

This could be great for anyone who’s ever scoured the produce section for fresh fennel or wondered what a kumquat looks like but was unable to get help from a store employee. It’s video recognition for produce. Not just scanning to see its price, but identifying what you’re holding so you don’t mess up that […]

When Scott Saeger thinks about vitamins, supplements and nutrition, he envisions people interested in living a healthy lifestyle. So he was alarmed to see that GNC, a leading health and wellness company, wasn’t investing in technology, something he says is necessary for the long-term health of any business, never mind its employees. “Over the last […]

Watching cases of padlocks glide down the conveyor belt at Hampton Products International’s distribution facility can be mesmerizing, especially with the hum of the machinery in the background. It’s a setting always gets Brian Millsap thinking about how to make the company more efficient. No doubt, there’s a lot for the company’s CIO to track. […]

What do you get when you combine a machinist, a doctor and two men born to sell? Ninety years later, you get a company specializing in uniforms, tools and services for law enforcement, firefighters and rescue responders across the U.S. From the first resuscitator sold to the latest in base layer garments, L.N. Curtis & […]

The U.S. continues to expand access to cannabis in many states and in November 2020, five more states voted by overwhelming majorities to legalize cannabis. Despite this, in more than two dozen states, a person can be arrested and thrown in jail for possessing or trying to sell marijuana. In the other 15 states where […]

Noted for its array of sentimental collectibles sure to tug heartstrings on holidays—especially Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day—The Bradford Group knows what drives emotions. Could be Thomas Kinkade artistry, always popular around the Yuletide. Could be personalized jewelry for Valentine’s Day, or a music box for mom or grandma come Mother’s Day. And for […]

Though Sree Sreedhararaj has spent his career bettering retail with technology, he was still caught by surprise with events in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic was a retail game changer, even during the holiday shopping season that was starting as Sreedhararaj chatted with Toggle in November. Though he’d anticipated the need for a stronger virtual presence […]