NEWS
JD Sports to roll-out one-click AI platform purchases
J
D Sports is reportedly exploring the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with a new platform that will allow customers
to shop and make purchases directly through AI chat bots. Jetan Chowk, JD’s Chief Technology
and Transformation officer, told the Press Association the company sees AI as “the future of how people will shop” and the retailer wants to be at the heart of this. It’s working with Commercetools and payment
firm Stripe on “one-click purchases” through AI platforms – such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot – with the tech said to launch in the USA in the months ahead.
Mr Chowk said the company expects to
expand the tech to other key markets (the UK and Europe) this year. “We think AI is the future of how people will
Footasylum to open new ‘landmark’ store in Leeds
F
ootwear and sportswear retailer Footasylum is opening a new “landmark” store in the Trinity Leeds
Shopping Centre in April, after a successful pop-up store in the centre last year. The location of the new 12,000sq ft store will build on the retailer’s “long-standing presence” in Leeds, it said, following the strong performance of its former store at The Core Shopping Centre and last year’s pop-up. The store will house a diverse mix of
renowned third-party brands alongside Footasylum’s exclusive labels, including Monterrain, Forena, Dripmade, and Epic Kind. It
will also create 24 local jobs. Commenting on the opening, Shannon Osman, Head of Retail at Footasylum, said in a statement: “Leeds has always been a strong market for Footasylum. The response to our pop-up in the Trinity Shopping Centre last year, and our previous store at The Core, demonstrated clear demand for a bigger, permanent Footasylum presence in the city, and we’re delighted Trinity provided the right opportunity to do that. “This store represents an important step as we continue our rollout across the UK and
beyond under Aurelius’ ownership. Investing in high-quality retail spaces remains central to our multi-brand, multi-channel strategy, and we look forward to further openings in the year ahead.” The new Leeds store is part of Footasylum’s ongoing UK expansion, following several recent openings, including Darlington, in Bromborough, and Bradford.
shop, and we want to stay at the forefront of how they shop,” said Mr Chowk. “What we are currently seeing is that customers are regularly using AI apps to research and discover the products they want to buy. We can see that already and want to ensure we are moving early to meet customers and their needs in that space.” The sports fashion retailer has a big presence
in the youth shopping market and has seen AI usage soaring for shoppers aged 18 to 24. The use of AI in the retail market is increasing rapidly, both behind-the-scenes and in customer- facing activities. Last year, Frasers Group (the owner of JD competitor retailer, Sports Direct) said it was to become the first European retailer to deploy Commercetools’ full agentic commerce suite.
JD Sports CEO, Regis Schultz, added that
working with Commercetools and using AI will strengthen the brand’s digital proposition for its customers, and how the tech “keeps us moving in line with the fast-changing retail landscape”.
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