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There is a certain push toward perfectionism in athletic wear — some of that Nike “Just do it” ethos tends to permeate the market segment in a way that can feel a bit like pressure to all but the most seasoned athletes. But Austin-based Outdoor Voices operates with a much simpler motto for its workout wear: “Doing things is better than not doing them,” a simple brand motto that encapsulates its more laid-back approach to the fitness lifestyle that company Founder Tyler Haney hopes to bring to the masses. “I was always an athlete growing up­, running track and playing basketball, but never resonated with the credo to be ‘faster, better, stronger’ that so many major activewear brands are built around,” Haney said. “In Boulder, recreational activity is an integral part of everyday life — walking, running, hiking, skiing — and activity isn’t necessarily measured by performance, it’s social and fun. I started Outdoor Voices because I wanted an activewear brand that really...

Shoppers had new opportunities to buy groceries without having to walk through the aisles of their local supermarkets or wait in line at checkout counters this year, as grocers rolled out digital innovations in shopping and payments. This year, retailers from Kroger to Whole Foods Market brought new offerings ranging from cashierless checkout to personal shopping services to their stores. Personal Shopping Services In August, Amazon and Whole Foods Market announced the rollout of a curbside pickup service for groceries in Virginia Beach and Sacramento. To use the service, Amazon Prime members tapped into their Prime Now apps to place their orders and choose a pickup option at checkout. These shoppers, in turn, had a chance to receive free pickup if they wanted their order ready in an hour and met a minimum spending threshold or they were able to receive a 30-minute pickup window for a fee. Either way, customers were able to drive to their store and have a Prime No...

While at times it can feel like it’s all be done before and that all that’s left now are iterations, as 2019 readies for takeoff there is a lot of business on the table waiting to be tended to. From the hundreds of millions of consumers in the developing world  still in need of real ID  to the estimated trillions of dollars  Internet of Things  (IoT) solutions will be worth over the next year alone to the consumers all over the world waiting for the latest and greatest in new payments tech, there is plenty to do. The question is which players will pick up the baton and run after the next generation of goals, and who will be left in the dust. $7.1 trillion: Total estimated value of the IoT solutions market by 2020. $17.19 billion: Total revenue generated by the image recognition market last year. 500 million: Number of Africans who lack official ID as of 2018. 65 percent: Share of consumers who expressed interest in tap-to-pay because it is f...

Bruce Parker, founder and CEO of Modo , contributed the following piece as part of PYMNTS’ 2018 year-end eBook . ’Twas December 2017, and all through the global payments space, APMs and traditional banks were in a neck-and-neck race. Fanatics were shouting the old ways were dead, while visions of blockchain danced in their heads. (Record scratch) So, uh, that’s not exactly how 2018 turned out. A year ago, enthusiasts spoke of a world powered by cryptocurrencies and challenger banks, with alternative payment methods (APMs) such as Klarna , Google Pay and other digital or contactless methods taking over for venerable cards (which have crossed the half-century mark!). However, those changes have come slower than many hoped — and in the case of blockchain, not much at all has changed. Nope. In 2017, everything had a little bit of blockchain on it. It was like a spice for chili (mmmm, chili). Now this technology is getting its comeuppance as banks and innovators co...

Target bought Shipt in December 2017 for $550 million. It was one of the largest acquisitions at the time for the company, and it moved the retail giant closer to its goal of providing same-day delivery for all of its customers. Now, with the new year just days away, Target has revealed some of its plans for the future with Shipt, according to reports . Target currently provides same-day service for in about 200 markets through 46 states. It includes most of the things that Target sells, like groceries and electronics, essentials and home necessities, all in an hour. “We’re always looking for ways to make shopping Target’s selection even easier,” John Mulligan, Target’s chief operating officer, said in a blog post . “With Shipt, same-day delivery became a reality for our guests across the country, making Target the first retailer to offer the service coast to coast.” When Target first started with Shipt about a year ago, the service was only available in about 70 ma...