GPS technology helps
Mac's Convenience Stores fight back
against cigarette theft
With crime prevention being an integral part of Mac's corporate
responsibility and seeking a solution to both recover stolen inventory and
apprehend offenders to prevent future crime; Mac's approached the firm 3Si
Security Systems for that solution.
Using existing GPS technology and
the idea of covertly housing the device inside either a single package or
carton of cigarettes, 3Si developed a new innovative product called the
Tobacco Tracker for Mac's.
The Tobacco Tracker is designed to protect
convenience stores 24/7. 3Si provides support from the criminal event to the
apprehension, and everywhere in between. This collaborative relationship
allowed 3Si and Mac's to:
With the concept developed, on May 9, 2014, Mac's installed the Tobacco
Tracker in two locations. The first robbery events occurred on July 11, 2014
and in both cases, the trackers worked, leading to one suspect being caught.
The successes have continued and to date a total of 22 suspects - nine
of which were serial offenders who had victimized other c-store and pharmacy
retailers before being apprehended - have been taken off the streets thanks
to the tracking program.
cstoredecisions.com
Visa Defends Fees in
Wal-Mart Canada DisputeVisa Inc. defended the
fees that it wants to set for card transactions at Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s
stores in Canada, saying the payments network has offered the retailer "one
of the lowest rates" in the country. Visa says consumers are the real
victims in a high profile battle over merchant fees.
In
advertisements that appeared in Canadian newspapers on Thursday, the
payments network said it is disappointed that Wal-Mart is threatening to
stop accepting Visa at its stores. Wal-Mart, which has 405 stores in Canada,
said last week it will stop accepting Visa cards starting with three
stores in Thunder Bay, Ontario, on July 18. The retailer said it would then
extend this across Canada.
Visa, which sets the fees that
card-issuing banks collect from merchants, said it has been at the
negotiating table with Wal-Mart for several months. "Wal-Mart has always
been treated as one of our most important global partners and we have always
recognized their scale in our relationship," Visa said in the letter.
wsj.com
Small businesses an
unlikely cheerleader for Walmart in fee battle with Visa
Small businesses aren't usually in the habit of championing Walmart. But
these days, many have nothing but praise for the retail behemoth, which is
engaged in a public battle over merchant credit card fees. Many small
merchants say high credit card transaction fees charged by all dealers -
including Visa and MasterCard - are hurting their bottom line. So they hope
the Walmart-Visa squabble will raise awareness and perhaps even spark
change.
cbc.ca
Study: 42 percent of
Canadian jobs at high risk of being replaced by automation
More than 40 per cent of the Canadian workforce is at high risk of being
replaced by technology and computers in the next two decades, according to a
new report out Wednesday. Breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and
advanced robotics now means that automation is moving into "cognitive,
non-routine tasks and occupations, such as driving and conducting job
interviews."
The institute put a 70 per
cent or higher probability that "high risk" jobs will be affected by
automation over the next 10 to 20 years, and it said workers in the most
susceptible jobs typically earn less and have lower education levels than
the rest of the Canadian labour force.
cbc.ca
Toronto official wants
city to partner with grocery chains
in gun buy-back program
City councillor Giogio Mammoliti says a gun amnesty/buy-back program would
provide a legal way for people to dispose of firearms without fear of
prosecution. It would not apply to anyone who has used a gun while
committing a crime. Mammoliti suggests the city offer $100 per gun or
partner with a corporation like a grocery chain to offer gift cards. In
2008, Toronto police traded digital cameras for firearms in a program called
"Pixels for Pistols," reports CP. They collected 1,900 wapons and 60,000
rounds of ammunition. Several other Canadian cities ran similar programs.
rcinet.ca
Technology - Technology
- Technology - Mobile - Mobile - Mobile
The #1 Investment for all retailers
Customer service is still king, but Canadian retailers are looking for new
ways to
increase sales by investing in technology,
according to the fourth annual Canadian Retail Insights Report by
American Express.
Across industries, retailers indicated
that consumers are demanding new technology and ecommerce, with,
77%
of respondents reporting that their customers are driving their need to
adopt mobile technologies.
The study confirms how impactful
technology is on the retail landscape. To remain competitive it's imperative
to stay attuned to not only what consumers are adopting today, but what
they'll be adopting tomorrow," "Customer service and new product offerings
are always important, but in today's market, embracing new technology to
meet customer needs is setting businesses apart from the competition."
marketingmag.ca
Canada's Tim Hortons
to expand in the U.S.
IKEA planning $15M
expansion of Calgary store
Vigils
held across Canada to mourn Orlando shooting victims
