Tony D'Onofrio
Blog
The latest BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands survey has insightful data for both technology companies and the retail 
industry.
For the retail industry, the brand value data projects continued economic recovery especially in the United States and in luxury brands.
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This weekend, while walking with my family through the hills of Thalwil, Switzerland, admiring Lake Zurich below us and in the distance the 
snow capped Alps, I started thinking about the topic of happiness. How do you know whether you are really happy? Is it the money? Your health? Your family? Your Career? Your Children? What are the secrets to happiness?
To answer the happiness question and to discover the secrets to a good life, for 70+ years researchers at Harvard University followed 268 men who entered their university starting in 1937.
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The following image that was published this month on the website DashBurst resurfaced multiple thoughts on convergence as it continues to evolve between traditional security and information systems technologies.
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New technologies such as RFID, NFC, augmented reality and gamefied retail apps will directly interact with consumers based on predictive
behaviors identified by "Big Data". - Tony D'Onofrio
This month RIS News published a great post on 12 key takeaways from a recent Onmichannel Merchandising Symposium.
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"Retail IT is being transformed. CIOs are shifting from proprietary systems to package solutions and from an emphasis on cost 
reduction to a solid bump in IT capital spending. A strong customer focus means CIOs are fixing their attention on channel integration and analytics that will help them spot and anticipate shopper preferences more quickly." (5) - NRF Stores Magazine, April 2013
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"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the 
bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." -- Mark Twain
It is Sunday morning and while sitting in my hometown "Piazza" started reflecting on my personal journey on two continents and the key foundation elements that started it all from such a simple unique location.
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In a recent Forbes, IBM's CEO predicted the following three ways technology will transform the future of business:
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"We're out of the (cash) register business.(2)" - Urban Outfitters CIO
As demonstrated by the recent Walmart announcement that they are expanding their "Scan & Go" iPhone app to 40 more stores in 
Denver, mobile POS continues to gain traction in global retail.
For Walmart, "Scan & Go enables a shopper to scan the bar codes on products as she (the shopper) picks the products off shelves and puts them into her shopping cart. The app creates a list of all products scanned. When the shopper has completed shopping, she presses the Done Shopping button and the app generates a custom QR code. The self-checkout terminals scan the QR code on the smartphone, tally the list, and ask the shopper to select a payment option to complete the transaction at the terminal.(1)"
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"Good morning, yesterday, You wake up and time has slipped away 
And suddenly it's hard to find, The memories you left behind
Remember, do you remember..."
- Times of Your Life -Paul Anka (Written by Bill Lane / Roger Nichols)
Time, those minutes, hours, months, and years, seem to be flying by faster these days. Being a fan of history and technology, have often wondered whether this fast pace is the result of the epoch we are living in. How has technology impacted our lives through history and what changes are ahead for the next generation?
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"In many ways it is "Back to the Future" of Retail......Technology is bringing back the capabilities to get back in touch with the retail customer. The winners once again will be those that focus on the customer experience, both in store and online." - Tony D'Onofrio
Multiple industry posts this week led to the following question:
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It is a Small World
"To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funnybone." – Reba McEntire
Continuing our global journey to learn something new, our next stop is the Trevi Fountain in Rome. The name "Trevi" comes from the Italian words tre, meaning "three", and vie, meaning "roads". The fountain is located where three roads meet.
A fountain has been located at the Trevi Fountain site for over 2,000 years. The current fountain was designed by Nicola Salvi and built between 1732 and 1762. It's the largest Baroque fountain in Rome.
The Trevi Fountain's water comes from the Acqua Virgo aqueduct, the only functioning aqueduct from ancient Rome. Local lore says that throwing a coin into the fountain will ensure you return to Rome. Other lore says that throwing two coins will lead to love, and throwing three coins will lead to marriage.
Wishes aside, since 2006, a Roman Catholic charity called Caritas has collected the roughly €3,000 a day thrown into the fountain and used it to provide food and social programs worldwide.
Life is one sweet ride. Time flies way too fast. Take a moment. Sit at your favorite place. Imagine the history before you. Live each moment as it was your last. One day, it will be.
Categories
Brilliant Research
Unlocking Shopper Reactions to Secured Products
60% of shoppers report seeing locked-up merchandise on a regular basis. More than a quarter of shoppers say a retailer loses their purchase when items are locked up. 62% of shoppers say they typically wait for assistance when they encounter locked up merchandise, and 9% say they order the item online from that same retailer. - From Numerator.com Read more
Smart Infographic
Retail Media: An Evolving Growth Opportunity that Won't Wait
Retail media is still surging. Ad spending with US retailers is growing 9X faster than traditional point-of-sale shopper marketing. - From Bain & Company
Insightful Videos
Why EV Leases Are So Cheap Right Now In The U.S. -CNBC
Automakers are offering steep discounts on electric vehicles, and especially on leases. In the first three months of 2024, less than a quarter of car buyers leased vehicles, but more than a third of EV buyers did. Read more
