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Neiman Marcus partners with The RealReal to expand in-store consignment

Neiman Marcus in Walnut Creek, CA Fashion retailer Neiman Marcus is partnering with online luxury consignment marketplace The RealReal to provide luxury consumers with a simple way to consign their clothes. The new initiative will allow consignors to receive payment for their luxury goods in the form of Neiman Marcus gift cards with the added bonus of an additional 10 percent of the value. In this way, consumers can continue

Top 10 luxury retail efforts of H1

Neiman Marcus Memory Mirror In the first half of 2015, retailers embraced technology to ease the purchasing process and elevate the in-store experience for their consumers. From smart mirrors and mobile payments to new social media networks that connect shoppers, multi-brand stores worked to surprise and delight their customers across channels. In addition, creative campaigns challenged norms and generated conversations. Here are the top 10 retail efforts of the first half of

Bulgari protects consumer data with “wrist-vault” timepiece

Screenshot from Bulgari video for its Diagono E Magnesium Italian jeweler Bulgari is bringing traditional craftsmanship into the digital ecosystem with an intelligent timepiece focused on data security. The Diagono E Magnesium is a fully mechanical timepiece equipped with NFC technology, which allows the watch to act as a key that opens a secure Bulgari Vault smartphone application. As wealthy consumers are doing more online, from banking and shopping to

10 Most Incredible Views of America's Cities

What better way to see a city than from the very top? With views that stretch on for miles, sky-high observation decks and scenic points allow you to experience America’s cities in a uniquely thrilling way. Of course, there’s more than just the vistas—heart-racing activities, rotating restaurants, and picture-perfect garden terraces round out the offerings. For incredible views of America’s cities, head to these ten breathtaking spots. By Zachary Laks

Betting on blockchain: firms seek fortune in bitcoin's plumbing

By Jemima Kelly LONDON (Reuters) – A year ago, bitcoin was widely dismissed as little more than a way for drug-dealers and terrorists to move money around anonymously. Now, some of the world’s biggest banks and companies are buying into the technology behind it. Underlying the controversial web-based “cryptocurrency” is the blockchain – a massive ledger of every bitcoin transaction ever made that is verified and shared by a global

BlackBerry to buy messaging alerts firm AtHoc to expand software base

By Euan Rocha TORONTO (Reuters) – BlackBerry Ltd said on Wednesday it is buying privately-held AtHoc, a provider of secure, networked crisis communications, as it moves to broaden its software offering and generate revenue from its BBM messaging service. San Mateo, California-based AtHoc’s services are used by a number of top clients including the U.S. Department of Defense, Homeland Security and a host of blue-chip companies, to provide software that

Apple gives weak forecast, shares fall nearly 7 percent

BENGALURU/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Apple Inc shares slumped nearly 7 percent in after-hours trading as its fourth-quarter revenue forecast fell short of estimates and it missed some targets for iPhone sales. The forecast overshadowed Apple’s strong sales in China, which more than doubled to $13.23 billion from a year earlier. Apple Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri said in an interview the results in China were “spectacular” during the quarter and

U.S. home sales near eight-and-a-half-year high, prices rise

U.S. home resales rose in June to their highest level in nearly 8-1/2 years, a sign of pent-up demand that should buoy the housing market recovery and likely keep the Federal Reserve on track to raise interest rates later this year. The National Association of Realtors said on Wednesday existing home sales increased 3.2 percent to an annual rate of 5.49 million units, the highest level since February 2007. Existing