MarketDial champions all retailers who test. And, while we undoubtedly want retailers to test with us, we believe anyone conducting tests deserves a shout out. Join us each month as we raise a toast to some of the remarkable initiatives being tested by diverse retail organizations.
Lowe’s is testing a robotic parking lot patrol
If you live in Philadelphia, Washington State, North Carolina, Washington D.C., or California, you might just see a 400-lb Knightscope K5 robot roaming the parking lots at Lowe’s. While not intended to replace security guards, the robots are designed to help with criminal prosecution and situational awareness, including theft reduction, by scanning for threats, criminals, domestic abusers, and terminated employees.
Levi’s plans to test AI-generated models
With diversity, equity, and inclusion a high priority for Levi’s, the fashion retailer is partnering with LaLaLand.ai to create models that represent the full diversity of human body types, ages, sizes, and skin tones. The hope is to enhance the consumer experience by enabling consumers to visualize the product on models that look more like themselves, thereby personalizing the experience in an inclusive manner.
Sensei tests autonomous supermarket in Lisbon
Calling the new market a “Dojo,” Sensei, the leading European provider of automous, AI-powered stores, launched a test store in Lisbon, testing new features that include gate-less exits and entries. The goal is to provide a friction-free shopping experience by removing checkouts. The intention, however, is not to replace employees with tech altogether but to heighten the consumer experience by eliminating the wait in lines and enabling employees to attend to the customers more than to scanning items at checkout.
Dollar Tree opens test kitchen
Opting to expand frozen and refrigerated food offerings, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar are adding $3-$5 grocery items to their coolers in 3,500 stores along with 16,000 cooler doors in 2023. Of particular note, enhanced food offerings boost the average ticket, more than doubling the basket size of those without the multi-priced items. Additionally, the company plans to introduce private brands currently being developed in in the new test kitchen.
7-Eleven is testing drone delivery
How do you celebrate 89 years in business? For 7-Eleven apparently its with its first drone delivery to a customer. While the timing on a full-scale national drone delivery rollout is still undisclosed, the retailer is partnering with independent drone delivery servicer, Flirtey, to deliver products such as Slurpees, chicken sandwiches, doughnuts, hot coffee, and select candy.
Dunkin’ rolls out breakfast tacos nationwide after testing
After testing in Arizona, Maine, and New Hampshire, Dunkin’ rolled out its new breakfast tacos nationwide. The tasty menu offering came on the heals of morning traffic reaching pre-pandemic levels, with foot traffic increasing 13% year-over-year. The tacos can be served with or without bacon and are a temporary addition for spring and summer.
How about you? What are you testing? Did you know testing enables you to see the impact of your ingenious ideas before implementing a large-scale rollout?
Make informed decisions by putting all your retail initiatives to the test with MarketDial. Learn more about the retailers who trust us as their test-and-learn partner, and read about the exciting things tested and toasted by MarketDial here: Case Studies
If you would like to be toasted or would like to raise a glass to a testing retailer, please contact us at: [email protected]
Missed previous toasts? Catch them here:
February 2023
