The Retail Times is a weekly newsletter covering retail tech news from Canada and around the globe.
Subscribe to R|T using the form at the bottom of this page to ensure you don’t miss out on the most important retail tech news every week!
Shopify launches AR Quick Look allowing iOS 12 users to preview products in AR (BETAKIT)
AR Quick Look will allow users on iOS 12 devices to preview products in AR from Safari instead of having to download specific apps.
DMS Recommends: Connected Consumer Study: Digital assistants and the future of emerging technology in Canada (DIGITALMAINSTREET)
The digital assistant—already being used by 17% of millennials—is poised to reshape Canadians’ lives in the coming years by helping them navigate the internet more naturally than ever before.
Japanese startup Paidy raises $55M Series C to let people shop online without a credit card (TECHCRUNCH)
The round was led by Japanese trade conglomerate Itochu Corporation, with participation from Goldman Sachs.
Costco grocery delivery comes to Canada, starting with Southern Ontario (HUFFPOST)
For the time being, the online ordering service via Costco.ca will be available only to customers in southern Ontario, with plans to expand to the rest of Ontario and Quebec.
Glovo gets $134M to beef up its on-demand delivery business (TECHCRUNCH)
The lead investors in the Series C are Rakuten Capital, Seaya Ventures, and Cathay Innovation.
Custom framing company Framebridge raises $30M in Series C funding (FINSMES)
The company intends to use the funds to increase brand awareness, expand its manufacturing capabilities, and drive innovation in its products and delivery channels.
ChefHero expands to Chicago (BETAKIT)
ChefHero said it will provide smaller chains and individually-owned restaurants access to local Chicago-based producers.
La-Z-Boy snaps up Joybird (RETAILDIVE)
“[I]t will allow us to better reach millennial and Gen X consumers, leverage our supply chain assets and provide us with a greater presence online,” said La-Z-Boy CEO Kurt L. Darrow.
inkbox raises $17 million CAD to expand artist marketplace (BETAKIT)
inkbox has sold 450,000 tattoos to customers in over 150 countries.
Alibaba boosts its offline reach with $2B+ investment in outdoor digital marketing firm (TECHCRUNCH)
Alibaba has forked out $2.23 billion in exchange for a sizeable piece of Focus Media, a Shanghai-based company that operates outdoor digital advertising screens across China, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
Microsoft and Walmart strike 5-year AI and cloud partnership (VENTUREBEAT)
As part of the deal, Walmart and Sam’s Club will migrate their cloud computing to Azure, and Walmart will utilize Azure’s IoT platform to track things like HVAC and refrigeration systems.
Desk Nibbles raises $362,500 to bring office snack platform to the US(BETAKIT)
Desk Nibbles aims to connect workplaces to healthy snack distributors.