Retail giant Macy's introduces app updates, debuts live shopping feature

Vibing the Virtual Aisle: Macy's Steps Up Its Digital Game

Pumping up its digital presence, fellow retail giant Macy's is revamping its mobile app with a snazzy new design and navigational features. Set to roll out on Oct. 15 for both iOS and Android devices, the revamped app promises a seamless shopping experience for tech-savvy shoppers.

The new app features a personal style curator, enabling users to browse Macy’s extensive collection and create wish lists of their favorite finds. To sweeten the deal, Macy's has optimized product filters, offered personalized recommendations, and streamlined the returns process. For those favoring a brick-and-mortar shopping experience, the app now includes price checks, store maps, product availability notifications, Buy Online Pickup In-Store (BOPIS), and curbside pickup options.

Macy's is also shaking things up with its inaugural livestream shopping experience, christened Macy’s Live. Prepared to channel the vibes of livestream commerce trailblazers like QVC and HSN, this dynamic platform brings the retailer's stylists and hosts right into your living room. Customers can interact in real-time, witness product reviews and recommendations, and even get a closer look at featured items. After the livestream event, viewers can access archived shows and shop on-demand, adding a touch of convenience to their shopping sprees.

Diving Deeper:

As Macy's broadens its horizons in the digital sphere, the question of spinning off its e-commerce division has arisen. In its Q2 earnings report, the company saw a 6% dip in digital sales compared to last year but a 45% increase compared to Q2 2019. This has led some investors, like activist investor Scott Ostfeld, partner and co-portfolio manager of Jana Strategic Investments, to propose that Macy’s could potentially separate its e-commerce business to boost its stock price. Macy’s e-commerce operation could be worth a whopping $14 billion, compared to its current $6.9 billion valuation[1].

However, Macy's is still weighing the operational challenges that such a split would entail, particularly the integration of online and physical stores to maintain an omnichannel shopping experience[2]. The retailer has engaged in discussions with consultancy AlixPartners and has been advised by Jana Partners, yet a final decision on the spin-off has not yet been made.

In the meantime, keep an eye on Macy's as they continue to embrace the digital revolution and strive to provide a shopping experience tailored to today's discerning digital consumer.

[1] Macy's e-commerce spin-off: Why investors think the retailer should do it - CNBC[2] Macy's may spin off its e-commerce unit - The Washington Post

The weather forecast for technology adoption in retail suggests a bright outlook, as Macy's incorporates AI and integrates technology into their digital transformation.
The breaking news in the markets is that Macy's is poised to enhance its mobile app, aiming to boost customer interactions and improve online shopping experiences.
Amidst the rise of smartphones and gadgets, Macy's is updating its app to include features such as curbside pickup and real-time product availability, drawing in tech-savvy shoppers.
As Macy's steps up its digital game, the retail industry is abuzz with discussions about the potential breakup of its e-commerce division – a move that could add billions to its market valuation, according to industry experts.
Macy's, being a leader in both physical and digital fashion, is considering spinning off its e-commerce operation to focus on its core business, a policy decision that would have significant implications for the retail sector.
In the realm of fashion and lifestyle, Macy's Live – the retailer's newly launched livestream shopping platform – is expected to bring a fresh twist to conventional retail, merging the virtual and the physical realms.
QVC and HSN, pioneers in livestream commerce, have set some high standards for Macy's; the challenge is to adapt their expertise to the contemporary demands of a tech-driven and cybersecurity-conscious consumer base.
Research on retail trends has shown that the retail landscape is rapidly evolving, with shopping habits shifting towards an omnichannel approach, integrating brick-and-mortar, online, and livestream experiences.
Besides enhancing its digital presence, Macy's continues to experiment with other areas of innovation – including research on health and wellness products and initiatives to promote a sustainable and inclusive culture.
The new digital shopping experience at Macy's aims to create a seamless journey for consumers, blending shopping, entertainment, and education, reflecting the convergence of technology and culture in today's world.
In a digitally-dominated shopping environment, retailers like Macy's play a crucial role in shaping consumer behavior, influencing trends, and redefining the cultures around fashion, business, and finance.