Lowe’s is using robots, but would you?
Robots are gaining a stronger foothold in retail than ever, with major retailers such as Lowe’s, Target and Best Buy trying them out for various customer service and inventory tasks, according to an article published by Knowledge@Wharton in the Fiscal Times.
Lowe’s, for example, is in the San Francisco area rolling out a robot that “uses voice recognition to identify products for customers and lead them to the right shelf — in multiple languages,” according to the article.
The approach may work well for large retailers, where workers don’t always have extensive knowledge of the products in the store. But what about luxury retailers? How about a robot selling high-end jewelry in a downtown boutique?
Well, the concept might not fly for luxury goods, at least not any time soon, says Denise Dahlhoff, research director at Wharton’s Baker Retailing Center. In fact, luxury is an area where lack of robots is probably a selling point.
The article explains: “Here, a white-glove experience is not only expected but perhaps even demanded as high-end customers want the personalized service that only specially trained human staff can provide.”
Read more at the Fiscal Times
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Family Legacy, New Chapter: How Wilkerson Turns 89 Years of History Into Future Success
After 89 years of serving the Albany community, Harold Finkle Your Jeweler faced a pivotal decision. For third-generation owner Justin Finkle, the demanding hours of running a small business were taking precious time away from his young family. "After 23 years, I decided this was the time for me," Finkle explains. But closing a business with nearly nine decades of inventory and customer relationships isn't something easily managed alone.
Wilkerson's comprehensive approach transformed this challenging transition into a remarkable success story. Their strategic planning handled everything from advertising and social media to inventory management and staffing — elements that would overwhelm most jewelers attempting to navigate a closing sale independently.
The results speak volumes. "Wilkerson gave us three different tiers of potential goals," Finkle notes. "We've reached that third tier, that highest goal already, and we still have two weeks left of the sale." The partnership didn't just meet financial objectives—it exceeded them ahead of schedule.
