Retailers testing new tech to save wounded bricks-and-mortar businesses

Can touch-screen technology revive struggling brick-and-mortar stores?

Fashion magazine Marie Claire and credit-card giant Mastercard have launched a pop-up store with Neiman Marcus goods at Richard Talmadge’s 120 Wooster Street in Soho. Touch-screen mirrors dot the dressing rooms, allowing customers to request articles in different sizes and buy them on the spot without having to stand in line for a cashier, Bloomberg reported. The store will be open until Oct. 12.

Neiman Marcus ditched plans for an initial public offering in January in the wake of lackluster earnings. Earlier this year, Related Companies executives met with the retailer’s leadership to discuss a potential acquisition, but on May 25, the development giant’s founder Stephen Ross said he is not interested in buying the retailer.

Last month, reports emerged that Neiman Marcus wants to downsize its planned flagship store at Hudson Yards, but the retailer denied this.

Same-store sales at Neiman Marcus have declined for seven consecutive quarters.  [Bloomberg] — Konrad Putzier