Would you pay three hundred thousand dollars for a ski-themed travel package?

Air Canada is hoping to attract customers who will. The airline’s extravagant ski package includes ice skating on the world’s largest outdoor rink, skiing in the mountains, and a dog sled excursion. As part of this deluxe offering, Air Canada is even converting a private jet into a “flying ski chalet.”

While this may be a particularly posh example, it addresses a question many airlines and hotel brands alike are asking themselves: How can we attract and retain high-value customers? Luxurious, one-of-a-kind offerings like Air Canada’s ski package are one strategy in the competition to engage with this group. Many airlines and hotels are also introducing programs like premium services and elite loyalty tiers to capture more high-value customers’ business. In the war to attract the most valuable customers, it’s key for companies to understand whether new offerings actually lead to increased customer spend and new business, or simply generate profits from existing customers who were already loyal to the brand.

(more…)

“Get comfortable with days of inventory, not weeks,” said Home Depot’s senior vice president of supply chain, in The Wall Street Journal.

Home Depot is not alone in reducing inventory levels. Nordstrom and Ross have also joined the ranks of retailers trimming inventory in hopes of slashing backroom and distribution costs, minimizing markdowns, and decluttering stores. Yet retailers that reduce inventory in the wrong way will also mark down their profits. Before shifting strategies, retailers seeking to “right-size” their inventory must consider the impact of limiting inventory on sales both in-store and online.

Companies can pinpoint which assortments and inventory levels fit just right by testing new inventory levels and assortments in a subset of stores, and comparing their performance to that of similar stores.

(more…)

The analytics landscape is evolving. As outlined by APT CEO Anthony Bruce in a recent Information Age byline, decision-oriented executives and budding analysts alike must be attuned to the latest developments to effectively leverage analytics to drive business value.

(more…)

A recent study from Convenience Store News found that purchasing beverages is one of the most common reasons to shop at a convenience store. Capitalizing on their status as a beverage go-to, many convenience stores are investing in new drink programs to drive traffic into stores and encourage customers to spend more. As c-stores increasingly bet on beverages, they must carefully evaluate the considerations accompanying each new program.

(more…)

Super Bowl Sunday is a major occasion not just for the two teams going head-to-head, but also for restaurants, particularly on the takeout and delivery front. This year, about 48 million people were expected to place some type of food order, presenting an opportunity for restaurants to score a touchdown.

Domino’s says the Super Bowl is the company’s third-busiest delivery day of the year, second only to Halloween and New Year’s Eve. The chain sells more than 11 million slices on game day – which is a 350 percent increase from a typical Sunday. Pizza Hut announced plans to hire 11,000 new employees ahead of the game. Delivery drivers nationwide were projected to clock about four million miles delivering Super Bowl orders.

As pizza players pour resources into programs like Facebook Messenger ordering capabilities and advertising pushes on social media, delivery strategies are increasingly top of mind across the industry at large. While the Super Bowl festivities have died down, how can brands refine their delivery programs for everyday wins?

(more…)

Just three percent of the world’s hostel properties are located in the U.S. and Canada, and they account for only 10 percent of hostel revenue worldwide; as a comparison, hotel revenue in those markets is 28 percent of global revenue. Considering that the hostel industry generates $5.2 billion in annual revenue, it appears that there is room for growth in the U.S. hostel market. Hostels are already rising in popularity as an affordable option for accommodations, and redefining the conventional industry model.

(more…)

In the insurance industry, gamification is gaining traction as a tool to engage policyholders and agents alike, channeling the fun of playing games – points, prizes, and all – into interactive educational platforms.

Incorporating game-design elements to appeal to individuals’ sense of competition and achievement has many useful applications across the insurance industry, from incentivizing agents to sell new products to enticing current and future policyholders to take a more active interest in their insurance investments.

(more…)

Beyond advertising, consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers have traditionally had limited interaction with their end consumers, instead leaving direct interaction to their retail partners. However, more and more companies are taking increased ownership of the consumer-brand relationship.

(more…)

As restaurants continue investing in cutting-edge programs from mobile ordering to artificial intelligence in the form of chatbot ordering and more, and technologies like digital ordering kiosks and menu boards remain an enticing option, there are many potential technology investments to evaluate. But which technologies actually move the needle? As restaurants strive to bring new tools to the table, they must continually evaluate which technology investments will work for their concepts, and in which locations, to stay ahead of guest preferences.

(more…)

Although this year’s National Retail Federation (NRF) Retail’s BIG Show has come to a close, the buzz generated by the event is sure to carry on. With 35,000 attendees across retail companies from 94 countries, over 500 exhibitors, and more than 300 speakers, there is no shortage of NRF Show retail news.

APT: A Disruptor

For APT, this year’s show was particularly exciting. First, CEO Anthony Bruce was named a Disruptor on the NRF Foundation’s List of People Shaping Retail’s Future 2017. With his inclusion on the list, he is one of just 25 individuals honored as the best and brightest impacting the retail industry today. Bruce was recognized during the BIG Show at the NRF Foundation Gala.

“It is an honor to be recognized on the NRF Foundation’s List alongside such a dynamic and accomplished group of leaders,” Bruce said. “I look forward to continuing our work fueling innovation in the retail space, and enabling retailers to make decisions with confidence.”

(more…)