Programs
Chipotle Loyalty Program Enrolls 3 Million Since March Launch
The QSR restaurant chain’s loyalty program has driven 100 percent growth in digital sales. “The fast-casual Mexican chain reported 9.9 percent same-store sales growth in the first quarter with 5.8 percent transaction growth. KeyBanc Capital Markets called the digital growth ‘unprecedented.’”
Customer Experience
Amazon Aims for Free One-Day Shipping
The e-commerce giant aims to reduce its free-shipping timeline from two days to one. “Our goal is to evolve the two-day free shipping program into a one-day free shipping program,” said Brian Olsavsky, Amazon’s Chief Financial Officer. “We expect to make steady progress quickly and through the year.”
Smaller SUVs Win Bigger Share of Car Market
Consumers’ tastes in cars are changing, and this has led to the rise of the small SUV. “As the sedan has fallen out of favor with many US car buyers, automakers have rushed to introduce cheaper, more diminutive sport-utilities to their lineups. These new offerings are aimed at giving customers a new entry-point into car brands as small-car and hatchback models—long the go-to for many first-time car buyers—are phased out.”
Partnerships
Walmart Gets Its Own Beef Supply Chain
To bypass Tyson, Walmart has established its own supply chain of angus beef. “The nation’s biggest grocer has partnered with a Texas cattle rancher and other industry-related businesses to provide a steady supply of no-hormone-added Angus beef to 500 of its US stores beginning later this year.”
Kohl’s to Accept Amazon Returns in all Stores by July
Kohl’s had already begun accepting free returns for Amazon purchases at some locations. Come July, all Kohl’s stores will accept returns on Amazon purchases. “This marks an extension of a partnership between Kohl’s and Amazon that dates to the spring of 2017, when Kohl’s began selling Amazon gadgets—like its smart-home products—at some stores, and started handling Amazon returns at about 80 locations. That more recently grew to 100 Kohl’s stores, the retailer said Tuesday, and it will now roll out to more than 1,150 locations across the US.”