Today in retail, Walmart could be stepping into the metaverse, while Peloton continues to test the theory that bad publicity doesn’t exist. Additionally, retail bankruptcies were at their lowest level in a decade last year, falling from 52 bankruptcies to 21.
Plagued by problems, Peloton’s latest crisis casts a shadow over the overall trend in health and fitness
Peloton’s rocky stretch began with a death, accidents and lawsuits, followed by a product recall after months of resistance and more recently continued with reports of a reorganization that could include layoffs and production cuts to its core product.
Then came Peloton’s 25% drop in its stock price in a single day on Thursday (January 20), representing a $2 billion selloff. Add to that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s fair to wonder if Peloton is still going through some growing pains 27 months after its release or if people are drifting away from home personal fitness in their quest to get back into fitness centers, gymnasiums and other sports activities.
Retail bankruptcies drop 60% to lowest level in a decade
Retail bankruptcies have dropped significantly from 52 bankruptcies in 2020 to 21 last year, Axios reported Thursday, January 20, citing research by S&P Global Market Intelligence, with the 2021 total matching the lowest number in the last 10 years, reached in 2013 and 2014.
The precipitous drop in bankruptcies in 2021 could signal the end of the decimation of the retail sector triggered by the continued spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it certainly should not be taken as a sign that the problems are completely over. completed in this sector, according to the report.
AMZN vs. WMT Weekly: Going Digital, Working on Warehouses
Walmart has reportedly filed more than half a dozen trademarks and patents to protect its intellectual property in the metaverse, the cryptocurrency world, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
According to the filings, Walmart seeks to create “financial services, namely, providing virtual currency for use by members of an online community via a global computer network,” that would facilitate virtual purchases with “virtual currency, in the domain of non-fungible property”. tokens (NFT). Last year, Walmart launched a pilot project of 200 Bitcoin-enabled ATM locations that it hopes to expand to thousands.
Perfect Corp. teams up with MAC Cosmetics, SoPost on AI shade matching and product sampling
Beauty technology platform Perfect Corp., beauty brand MAC Cosmetics and online product sampling platform SoPost come together for a personalized product sampling experience for MAC Cosmetics’ Studio Fix Fluid Foundation , according to a press release on Thursday, January 20.
The collaboration combines augmented reality virtual try-on and artificial intelligence personalized shade matching, as well as physical product sampling, bridging the gap between the digital and physical worlds and empowering shoppers to make better decisions.
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NEW PYMNTS DATA: AUTHENTICATION OF IDENTITIES IN THE DIGITAL ECONOMY – DECEMBER 2021
On:More than half of US consumers believe biometric authentication methods are faster, more convenient and more reliable than passwords or PINs. So why do less than 10% use them? PYMNTS, in collaboration with Mitek, surveyed more than 2,200 consumers to better define this perception in relation to the usage gap and identify ways companies can increase usage.
