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Annual inflation rate rises 1.7% in July: Statistics Canada

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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Photo: Jack Sparrow
Photo: Jack Sparrow

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 1.7% on a year-over-year basis in July, down from a 1.9% increase in June. Prices for gasoline led the slowdown in the all-items CPI, falling 16.1% year over year in July, following a 13.4% decline in June. Excluding gasoline, the CPI rose 2.5% in July, matching the increases in May and June, according to a report released Tuesday by Statistics Canada.

Moderating the deceleration in July were higher prices for groceries and a smaller year-over-year decline in natural gas prices compared with June.The CPI rose 0.3% month over month in July. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, the CPI was up 0.1%, said the federal agency.

“Year over year, gasoline prices continued to reflect the removal of the consumer carbon levy, falling 16.1% in July, following a 13.4% decline in June. In recent months, prices for gasoline have been relatively stable, increasing 0.4% since April,” noted Statistics Canada.

“On a monthly basis, gasoline prices fell 0.7% in July. Lower crude oil prices, following the ceasefire between Iran and Israel, contributed to the decline. In addition, increased supply from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its partners (OPEC+) put downward pressure on the index.”

Photo: Los Muertos Crew
Photo: Los Muertos Crew

In July, prices for shelter rose 3.0% year over year, following a 2.9% increase in June, with upward pressure mostly coming from the natural gas and rent indexes. This was the first acceleration in shelter prices since February 2024, said Statistics Canada, adding that prices for natural gas fell to a lesser extent in July (-7.3%) compared with June (-14.1%). The smaller decline was mainly due to higher prices in Ontario, which increased 1.8% in July after a 14.0% decline in June.

“Rent prices rose at a faster pace year over year, up 5.1% in July following a 4.7% increase in June . . . Moderating the acceleration in shelter was continued slower price growth in mortgage interest cost, which rose 4.8% year over year in July, after a 5.6% gain in June. The mortgage interest cost index has decelerated on a year-over-year basis since September 2023.”

Year over year, prices for food purchased from stores rose at a faster pace in July (+3.4%) compared with June (+2.8%). Prices for confectionery (+11.8%) and coffee (+28.6%) accelerated, contributing to the increase in grocery prices. Unfavourable weather conditions in growing regions led to higher prices for the primary ingredients (cocoa and coffee beans) used to produce these food products, explained Statistics Canada. Additionally, prices for fresh fruit rose 3.9% year over year in July, following a 2.1% increase in June, largely stemming from higher prices for grapes (+29.7%). As of July 2025, Canadians were paying 27.1% more for food purchased from stores than they were in July 2020.

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Back-to-School retail season kicks off early as consumers shift to online and cost-conscious shopping: Field Agent

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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Photo: Anastasiya Gepp
Photo: Anastasiya Gepp

It’s been a hectic summer for many Canadians but as summer unfolds, retailers are already deep into the back-to-school season, a time that continues to start earlier each year, according to Jeff Doucette, General Manager of Field Agent Canada.

“We’ve already seen quite a bit of back-to-school in-store, for sure. Walmart was really quick out of the gate. I mean, Dollarama has already moved on to Halloween,” says Doucette.

Jeff Doucette
Jeff Doucette

He notes a quirky new trend emerging in the U.S. retail landscape. “It’s been kind of interesting. In the States, we’ve seen this season come out of nowhere called Summerween, which is basically the candy manufacturers trying to get another wave of Halloween candy into stores earlier.”

According to a Field Agent survey, 39% of Canadians say they will spend more this year than last year and 67% say inflation is impacting them more this year. 

The top five retailers for school supplies are Walmart, Dollarama, Costco, Staples and Real Canadian Superstore, said Field Agent.

The Field Agent survey also found that 71% say social media influences their shopping decisions and 95% will take packed lunches/snacks to school

As for the Canadian market, Doucette’s team has been tracking back-to-school shopping behaviour through its annual survey now in its 10th year.

“The results don’t change enormously year to year. But a few things really stood out this time: one is the bigger influence of online shopping, particularly Temu. It’s really starting to be a go-to online retailer for back-to-school.”

He attributes this growth to the rising influence of kids themselves in the shopping process.

“As kids get older, they become more influential in the process of what gets bought for back-to-school. For example, my daughter sent me her list from Amazon through a site called Share My List or something like that. She did all the shopping herself, sent me the link, I clicked a button and paid for it, that was it.”

Digital trends aren’t the only shift. Economic concerns are playing a major role this year as well.

“People are still concerned about inflation. That’s nothing new, but I think it’s driving people to shop earlier and to shop online more frequently, trying to find deals they might not get in-store.”

That concern is also causing more families to shop more conservatively, Doucette says.

Photo: Alex P
Photo: Alex P

“We’re seeing people not buying the full list anymore. They’re actually going back and seeing what they already have on hand. Maybe the backpack from last year is still good. Maybe the indoor shoes from last year become this year’s outdoor shoes.”

In his own household, Doucette approached back-to-school shopping with a creative twist.

“I said, ‘Let’s have a scavenger hunt around the house, see what we can find,’ and then we just bought the rest. That was a different take rather than just buying everything new, let’s use what we’ve already got. And surprisingly, I think we already had half the list in the house.”

The earlier start to the season is becoming more noticeable, particularly among major retailers.

“With back-to-school, there’s a bit of a hard stop when kids are still in school. I don’t think parents want to be seeing back-to-school displays before school’s even out. But we don’t see it taking long after. Walmart, for example, had displays up right after Canada Day, they went straight into back-to-school.”

But with the increase in online shopping, early physical displays are no longer the only path to sales.

“You don’t even need the displays. People are just grabbing things off the website or finding deals in-store as they go. Retailers that get an early start probably do benefit. Those early shoppers get wrapped up quickly and that’s always been Costco’s strategy, right?”

One clear distinction between Canada and the U.S. also stood out in this year’s survey.

“The primary difference is that Canadians send their kids to school with lunches way more than Americans do. About 95% of Canadians send packed lunches with their kids, compared to only around 40-something per cent in the U.S.”

That creates unique opportunities for Canadian grocery retailers during the back-to-school season.

“Back-to-school is a much bigger deal for grocery retailers in Canada than it is in the U.S. There’s a real opportunity, not just in September but throughout the school year, to help parents solve that ‘what’s for lunch tomorrow?’ problem.”

And while no retailer has fully seized on that idea yet, Doucette offers a suggestion.

“One of my best little consulting ideas is: imagine a refrigerated display where you could find everything you need for lunches, crackers, yogurt, carrot sticks, all in one spot. I think that would be really cool if someone gave it a try.”

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M&M Food Market President Allan Lindsay on growth, market niche, and giving back

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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Photo: M&M Food Market
Photo: M&M Food Market

Over the past five years, M&M Food Market has raised more than $450,000 to support BGC Canada (formerly Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada), funding essential programs for children and youth. What began as a pandemic initiative has evolved into a national partnership, with franchisees contributing locally through food and gift card donations, as well as event sponsorship.

Allan Lindsay
Allan Lindsay

“We had been looking for a partner that we could get involved in with, a charitable partner, a cause we could get behind. One that fit well with who we are as a brand and what we want to support,” said Allan Lindsay, President of M&M Food Market. “We were looking at and eventually ended up landing on Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada.”

The fit made sense for the food retailer. “We are very involved in our communities, and youth and children, and food security for them, is an important play for us as well.”

M&M began the partnership by donating gift cards and other essentials to clubs during the early days of the pandemic. “We got involved in the early parts of the pandemic actually. What we were able to offer them were gift cards and other things for our stores so that they could secure food for the clubs.”

The relationship has since grown into a deeper commitment. “Now we support them in a multitude of ways. We support them still with some donations from head office, whether it be gift cards or other, we raise money in our stores, with a particular focus on their Club Day.”

Every year, the company runs a customer donation campaign from May through June. “We proactively collect donations, engage our customers at store level.”

Beyond corporate initiatives, many franchisees also build personal ties with local clubs. “They engage with local clubs and do separate events through the year. So they’ll have a partnership with a club to provide food, or our franchise partner will put on a barbecue to raise money or to support an event.”

“It’s really been a really positive relationship and one we’re proud of,” said Lindsay.

Lindsay has visited several clubs himself and is also a member of the BGC Foundation Board.

“The work they do is really amazing. It’s a place for kids to go whether it’s before or after school or during the day. Yes, it provides some food and nutrition for those kids that we can help to support. But also they help with homework, some of them have computer labs, gymnasiums. They’ll do music lessons, depending on the capabilities and skills of the people working in the club or the other club members.”

“Every time I’ve gone to one, it’s amazing to see how plugged into it the kids are, to see how much they offer. You hear stories, there are so many people, whether they’re adults now or teens, that have come up through a club, and the difference it’s made in their life, and how impressive these youth are. It’s very inspiring.”

“All of those things together just make us feel really good about being able to, in a small way, support it.”

Photo: M&M Food Market
Photo: M&M Food Market

Lindsay has been with the company for over a decade, playing a key role in its evolution as a leading frozen food retailer in Canada.

The company is based in Mississauga, Ontario, which also serves as its headquarters. The first store opened in the Kitchener area in 1980.

M&M Food Market currently operates in over 300 traditional locations across Canada. “Traditional stores like a traditional M&M, we’re about 315,” said Lindsay. “And in our Express format where we might have a couple of doors in a Rexall or something like that we’re over 2,000.”

Store expansion continues, albeit modestly. “It depends on the year, but probably five to 10 kind of thing,” Lindsay explained. “That would be slight growth because there’s always kind of a refreshing of the network. To really kind of accelerate growth, it’d probably have to be 10 plus, but we’re in kind of a five to 10 mode right now.”

M&M’s niche lies in offering convenient, high-quality meals designed for modern families.

“I think a lot of it stems from how we try and position ourself and our brand promise, which is helping make real food for real life,” said Lindsay. “A lot of times we truncate it and we just say ‘real food for real life,’ and that references more like our real food promise, which is no artificial flavours, colours, sweeteners in anything that has the M&M brand on it.”

Their service model, which includes in-store meal advisors, helps differentiate the brand. “Our place is in helping busy families put meals on the table. It stems all the way from our service model in store, our meal advisors that give personalized experience and guidance to customers, all the way to having convenient, good-for-you meals and appetizers at home that are easy to make.”

“We’re a frozen food specialty retailer, I guess, if you wanted to get technical,” added Lindsay. “But I talk about us more as a food retailer that’s helping busy families and just busy people in general.”

Franchising is a key part of M&M’s business model, with the majority of stores operated by franchisees. “We’re about, say, 70% franchised,” said Lindsay. “The number kind of moves around a little bit.”

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Retailers face growing cybersecurity threats as attack surfaces expand, says IGEL’s John Walsh

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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Image: IGEL
Image: IGEL

Retailers are increasingly in the crosshairs of cybercriminals, and their growing presence on digital and social platforms is a major reason why, says John Walsh, Field Chief Technology Officer – Critical Sectors at IGEL, a Germany-founded company specializing in endpoint security.

In an interview with Retail Insider, Walsh explained that IGEL, initially known for its thin client hardware, evolved by focusing on its operating system, an architecture that supports strong security from the endpoint outward.

John Walsh
John Walsh

“As I understand it, the company was founded in Germany and the original founders started a business that was, for the most part, a thin client,” said Walsh. “It was an operating system, but they also manufactured, the hardware that went with it.”

That operating system turned out to be remarkably resilient. “We have customers we run into who are still operating the platform from 25 years ago,” he added.

Over time, the company saw the value in separating the OS from proprietary hardware. “It became recognized that the value in the platform was really the operating system and to become more agnostic of hardware, so that we could have multiple hardware partners that the operating system would run on,” said Walsh.

The OS itself brought unique security advantages. “It was a read-only immutable Linux operating system… being able to, because it’s read-only, eliminate 70 to 90% of the attack surface right at the endpoint,” Walsh explained. “It had some very unique, also, hardware root of trust features. So it was designed for security.”

This endpoint OS is centrally managed by IGEL’s Unified Management System, allowing enterprise control across edge devices. “It had a second component that is called the Unified Management System,” said Walsh. “This unified management system centrally manages the endpoints, which is a very unique characteristic when you look at some of the competitors.”

Walsh said the system enables customized user experiences while maintaining strict security and control. “We can enforce specifically by downloading through our app portal the things that you need to do your work, the user experience that you have,” he said. “So essentially this created a very lightweight endpoint and very secure endpoint, and one in which you could enforce the user experience.”

Notably, no data resides on the endpoint. “There’s no data on the endpoint,” he emphasized. “The data on the endpoint is coming from your data centre, your cloud, whatever the instantiation is of the architecture.”

IGEL’s open ecosystem now includes more than 120 partners, with another 60 in the pipeline. “So now we can bring any combination of permutation of applications, architectural platforms that you as the end user need to essentially meet your objectives or your requirements,” said Walsh.

When asked about the growing number of cyberattacks targeting retailers, Walsh said motivations vary. “Some of the objectives could be to eliminate availability of the architecture to cost them money,” he said. “At the end of the day, these big attacks are all about how does the person who’s launching the attack benefit, right?”

Image: IGEL
Image: IGEL

“They’re either trying to get personal information, credit card information,” he added. “They’re trying to create a ransomware event that would make the retailer have to pay. They may even go further in terms of creating false transactions to gain access, if you will, to merchandise and things like that they can resell.”

The endpoint is often where such attacks begin. “Typically the endpoint is where the attack begins. So there’s some sort of social engineering or thought processes around how to get to an endpoint so that they can move laterally and vertically within the architecture,” said Walsh.

A major driver of retail vulnerability is the shift to social selling. “Retail systems are beginning to use more and more social media,” said Walsh. “They’re rapidly expanding the attack surface.”

He warned that attackers are leveraging digital storefronts and mimicking brands to lure consumers. “When I get on Facebook and I’m sitting there and I see kind of maybe a deep fake of what looks like Best Buy and as it turns out, it’s not Best Buy. It’s a really good fake.”

He shared a personal experience: “I was provided an offer to get a 30% reduction in my AT&T billings. They knew my phone number, so they obviously had done a lot of the upfront work.” However, red flags eventually revealed the scam. “I began to realize that it was a ploy simply to get personal information.”

Asked whether retailers are prepared to combat these threats, Walsh offered a measured response. “I wouldn’t want to say something that would suggest that they’re not doing their best,” he said. “But I would say that there certainly are things they need to start thinking about more.”

He cited internal friction as a challenge. “There typically tends to be some friction between your CISO (Chief Information Security Officer) … and then you’ve got your CIO (Chief Information Officer),” said Walsh. “There seems to be a lot of friction as we start to look at what the risks are with some of these new attacks versus the risks associated with implementing new capabilities.”

Walsh said the industry is in a state of transition. “We’re beginning to adopt newer ways of doing things and we’re to some degree in a transition period.”

Image: IGEL
Image: IGEL

He concluded with a warning about how artificial intelligence is amplifying the risks. “The launch of AI allows you to take a lot of these things that are in the wild and you can rapidly modify them faster than we can respond to them with the traditional monitoring and detect approach.”

His advice: start with securing the endpoints and embrace Zero Trust principles. “Retail has to start thinking about Zero Trust in order to get to resilient solutions,” said Walsh. “At the most granular level, the access that you’re providing, the request that’s being made is a valid request. You’re only giving it the least privileges that are required.”

That mindset must stretch across the business. “That should be prevalent across the supply chain and across the business and the backhaul all through the organization to eliminate the insider threat and things like that,” he said.

Walsh closed by noting the gap that retail still needs to close. “There are a lot of things that the industry needs to be doing to catch up with the critical industries.”

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Canadian Retail News From Around The Web For August 19, 2025

By
Retail Insider
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Canadian Retail News From Around The Web

News at a Glance

Retail Insider is streamlining its Canadian retail news from around the web to include a handful of top news stories that can be viewed quickly during the day. Here are the top stories from the past 24 hours.

Starbucks to give salaried employees 2% raise in Canada, U.S. (CTV)

‘No one is safe’: Sleep Country’s Vancouver co-founder documents fight against crack addiction in memoir (Vancouver Sun)

Readers line up around the block for grand opening of Vancouver’s first romance bookstore (CTV)

The Beer Store closing 12 more stores in Ontario, including 3 in the GTA (CP24)

FreshCo opens 51st store in western Canada (Grocery Business)

From The Well to Yorkdale: Here are the latest store openings and upcoming launches in Toronto (Toronto.com)

Vancouver pop-up highlights local creators ages 6-14 (Vancouver Sun)

Whole Foods Toronto stores are already seeing bonkers lineups for closing sales (BlogTO)

Staples Canada Launches EASY Bus for Back-to-School

By
Craig Patterson
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Staples EASY Bus. Image: Staples Canada

Staples Canada is taking its back-to-school campaign on the road this August with the launch of the Back to School Made EASY Bus. The travelling experience showcases interactive technology demonstrations, curated learning supplies, and expert advice designed to help families navigate the modern classroom.

The initiative begins at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), where Staples will donate classroom supplies through the hospital’s Sponsor a Family program. Families identified by social workers as being in need will receive items to support learning both at home and in hospital. Patient ambassadors and their families will also explore the EASY Bus, gaining hands-on experience with educational tools as they prepare for a new school year.

This donation aligns with the 20th annual Staples School Supply Drive, which has raised more than $17 million in partnership with United Way Centraide and the Kiwanis Foundation of Canada. Over two decades, the program has provided thousands of students across the country with essentials to start the school year with confidence.

“Donations like this bring meaningful support to patients and families as they prepare for the school year,” said Iris Garcia, a registered social worker at The Hospital for Sick Children. “We appreciate Staples’ commitment to making a difference.”

Hands-On Technology and School Essentials

Visitors to the Staples EASY Bus will encounter an array of educational innovations. Demonstrations include noise-cancelling headphones, AI-driven learning tools, and the chance to test products at an interactive pen-to-paper bar. Staples associates will also be on hand to provide expert guidance, reinforcing the company’s role as a destination for back-to-school readiness.

Guests can also take part in the Tech Trade-in by Allstate program, exchanging older electronics for Staples gift cards valued up to $500. The program helps families save on upgrades while reducing electronic waste, reflecting a growing emphasis on affordability and sustainability. Each visitor will also receive a coupon for in-store shopping, adding value to the overall experience.

“Back to school looks different today, and we’re bringing that experience directly to families with the Back to School Made EASY Bus,” said Brian McDougall, Interim CEO and Chief Retail Officer, Staples Canada. “From hands-on demos to expert advice and the latest in educational tech, the EASY Bus is designed to help families feel confident and prepared for the modern classroom.”

Greater Toronto Area Tour

The EASY Bus will travel across the Greater Toronto Area throughout late August. The schedule includes:

  • Thursday, August 21, at King Street West and Spadina Avenue, Toronto
  • Friday, August 22, at Scarborough Town Centre
  • Saturday, August 23, at Toronto Nautical Harbour Centre
  • Sunday, August 24, at Toronto Premium Outlets in Halton Hills

Each stop will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., offering parents and students convenient access to the experience.

Staples’ Wider Back-to-School Solutions

The EASY Bus complements Staples Canada’s broader back-to-school programs. In-store technology experts, trained by Microsoft, Google, Samsung, and Apple, help families navigate an ever-growing array of devices. Staples curates solutions by features and capabilities, enabling parents to find what best suits their children’s needs.

Alongside technology support, Staples has committed to keeping classroom basics affordable. Essential supplies are priced from 25 cents, with weekly promotions and price matching available throughout the season. Educators receive added discounts, while the School Tools program provides bundled supplies with special savings for parents.

Shopping flexibility is also a focus, with options ranging from same-day delivery through DoorDash and Instacart to buy-online-pick-up-in-store services. Whether browsing grade-specific tools online or visiting one of Staples’ 298 locations nationwide, families can expect a consistent emphasis on convenience and value.

Supporting Canadian Communities

Headquartered in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Staples Canada positions itself as The Working and Learning Company. Its network includes retail stores, the Staples.ca e-commerce platform, Staples Print and shipping services, and Staples Studio co-working spaces. Through fundraising efforts such as Even the Odds, the company also invests in addressing health inequities across Canadian communities.

By combining community engagement with practical retail solutions, Staples Canada aims to make back-to-school a seamless experience for families nationwide. The EASY Bus highlights this strategy, bringing products, expertise, and charitable giving together under one mobile platform.

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The Beer Store announces more store closures

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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Photo courtesy of The Beer Store

The Beer Store (TBS) said Monday it is making the difficult decision to close 12 retail stores effective end of business day October 19.

The Beer Store will close the following retail stores:

  • Bridgenorth – 882 Ward St., Bridgenorth, ON, K0L 1H0
  • Eganville – 8647 Hwy. #60, Eganville, ON, K0J 1T0
  • Forest – 89 Main St. S., Forest, ON, N0N 1J0
  • Grand Bend – 21 Ontario St. N., Grand Bend, ON, N0M 1T0
  • Harrow – 398 King St. W., PO Box 249, Harrow, ON, N0R 1G0
  • Little Current – 53 Meredith St. E., PO Box 210, Little Current, ON, P0P 1K0
  • Markdale – 33 Argyle St., Markdale, ON, N0C 1H0
  • Noëlville – 142 David St. N., Noëlville, ON, P0M 2N0
  • North York – 3078 Don Mills Rd., North York, ON, M2J 3C1
  • Sauble Beach – 704 Main St., Sauble Beach, ON, N0H 1P0
  • Toronto – 900A Don Mills Rd., Unit #100, Toronto, ON, M3C 1V6
  • Toronto – 800 Gerrard St. E., Toronto, ON, M4M 1Y7
Ozzie Ahmed
Ozzie Ahmed

“Where we sell beer and collect empties in Ontario is changing. The Beer Store is modernizing to meet the changing marketplace and unfortunately this means making the hard decision to close retail locations. We know this is difficult news for customers and employees,” said Ozzie Ahmed, Vice President Retail, TBS.

“As The Beer Store modernizes, our locations will continue to provide friendly customer service and a deposit return system that gets consumers their money back.

“The Beer Store recognizes the contributions our employees make to the business and in the communities where we operate. All efforts will be made to support employees through this process in alignment with commitments and agreements.”

The Beer Store is encouraging customers to continue returning more than the 1.6 billion alcohol containers it processes annually to one of its local TBS locations or an empty return dealer located close by. The following alcohol containers purchased in Ontario can be returned to collect a deposit back: beer, wine and spirits bottles, aluminum cans, plastic bottles, tetra packs and kegs.

“All grocery stores that sell alcohol will be required to accept the return of empties and refund customer deposits starting January 1, 2026. This is part of consumer retail alcohol modernization, found in the Early Implementation Agreement and provincial regulations,” it said.

To help ensure that customers can still purchase beer and return empties conveniently, TBS is encouraging customers to use one of the following resources:

Owned by Ontario-based brewers and named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers 2025, the Beer Store is the largest beer retailer in Ontario. Its logistics division has 26 points of distribution strategically located across the province to meet the needs of customers. The Beer Store distributed 2.92 million hectoliters of beer to over 13,000 customers in 2024. In 2024, The Beer Store added over 5,300 new customers to its distribution network. The Beer Store employs 6,500 people.

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AI Tool to Help You Create Personalized Thank You Clips

By
Retail Insider
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A note of gratitude can help you strengthen connections. It demonstrates genuine consideration and effort when you make a personal video message. As opposed to plain text, video puts your tone, facial expressions, and emotions in perspective. It gives the appreciation a sense of reality.

Nowadays, artificial intelligence assists you in making your gratitude creative. The AI caption generator on the CapCut App brings your text to life as a video caption. It enhances clarity and provides your video with an emotional rhythm. With the blend of individuality and AI creativity, your thank you note will no longer be a message, but a moment. CapCut App can assist you with this process by providing an intelligent toolkit that allows you to edit easily, while still keeping your voice natural.

CapCut enables you to create something that is considered thoughtful, warm, and visually pleasing. You feel good regardless of whether you are recognizing a friend, a customer, or a mentor. The app will enable you to take your story to the next level, even if you have never edited a video before.

Choosing an AI Template for Thank You Notes

The templates provided by CapCut offer a solid foundation. These templates fall under different categories, ideal for showing gratitude with a heart, for fun, or in a professional setting. No matter what you want to express gratitude (a gift, a service, or emotional support), there is a template.

One way is to go to the AI lab tab in the CapCut App and use one of the ready-to-edit templates. Here, you will find over 50 styles to suit your mood and occasion. You can preview various visual effects and select a template that aligns with your tone. It makes you consistent with the emotion you need to convey.

Try the animation and music against your message before you commit to them. This allows you to check whether the images and the flow are correct. A thank-you video from a mentor may require a respectful and non-excited tone. A video to a close one may take a lighter or humorous direction. When you match the emotion to the occasion, it makes your message more sincere.

Development of AI Visual Styles Unique Messages

Thank-you notes do not need to be generic. You can transform simple messages into great visual narratives using CapCut AI video maker. Using AI visual styles, such as Warm Watercolor or Cinematic Inspiration, your message turns into art.

Select a style that suits your narrative. A Warm Watercolor picture is suitable for expressing emotional or sentimental gratitude. Cinematic Inspiration effect suits an intense or dramatic appreciative note. All these styles enrich your story and make it memorable.

You may use the AI text-to-video engine in combination with your anecdotes. Include a brief statement of the way the gift benefited or that the support was adequate. These minor details contribute to a stronger emotional appeal, making the viewer feel understood and appreciated.

Inserting Photos, Video Clips, and Personal Details

The thank-you video is even more special with the inclusion of personal footage. You can add clips of the gift unboxing, event highlights, or things you are thankful for. These additions make the story come to life.

CapCut features an AutoCut tool that helps with editing transitions between clips. It also manipulates pace and rhythm to suit the template, which makes your message fluent and refined. You do not need to perform complicated editing. The tool manages transitions, music timing, and the flow of vision.

To enhance the mood, consider using AI-generated music choices and cinematic filters. Soft-toned background music can enhance thankfulness. Warmth can be added using filters such as soft glow or vintage colors. Such minor alterations facilitate the creation of a touching and individual message.

Enhancing Emotional Delivery Using AI Voice-over and Captions

Your voice counts. You can document your thank-you note in the app. If you prefer not to speak, CapCut offers an AI voiceover feature that reads your text with a sincere and clear voice. Pick a tone that suits your story, whether relaxed or jovial.

Your captions should be designed according to the voiceover. To make a viewer focused, utilize animations, emojis, or handwriting fonts. Subtitles can also be turned on. They enhance transparency and convenience, particularly when sharing videos across nations or devices.

Captions can also make your message hit even when the sound is off. Adding a motion or style to your thank-you note makes it seem more alive and professional.

Where and How to Share Thank You Videos

Once your video is ready, you can send it via chat apps or embed it in emails. If the message is more public, share it on social platforms like TikTok or Instagram. You can even compile multiple messages into a Thank You Highlights reel. This works well for client thank-you videos or recap messages after events.

Save your favorite templates for future use. This saves time and helps maintain a consistent tone in future messages.

Design Heartfelt Messages in Seconds

Step 1: Launch and select template Begin by opening CapCut and tapping the “AI Lab” tab from the bottom. This brings you to the smart “AI story maker” feature tailored for fast video creation. Scroll to see templates like “Create story video”, “Create with AI avatar”, or “Create video with scripts”. Pick one that suits the tone of your thank you message.

Step 2: Create and customize note After picking a template, hit the “Try AI workflow” button. Type your message idea into the “creating a video story about” section. Choose a visual aesthetic such as “Realistic film”, “Cartoon 3D”, or “Anime”. Then press “Generate” to produce your thank you video.

Within seconds, you’ll see the result. To personalize more, go to the “Music” tab and add a suitable track. Modify captions using “Caption style”—try adding animations or changing font styles. For full creative access, tap “Go to Edit” and explore CapCut’s advanced features like filters, stickers, and transitions.

Step 3: Save and send Once you’re done editing, tap “Export” in the top-right corner. Your personalized video will be stored on your device. Share it via social media or send it directly as a heartfelt thank-you.

Conclusion

CapCut’s AI tools make meaningful video thank-you notes effortless. You can blend your emotions with smart editing features. This blend of technology and personal touch makes your appreciation stand out. Thoughtful video messages help build trust, connection, and lasting gratitude in both personal and professional settings.

AI-Powered LMS: When Your Business Requires It and How to Utilize

By
Retail Insider
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In today’s fast-changing business world, investment in employee development is not an advantage—it’s essential. But traditional learning management systems (LMS) often fall short when it comes to engaging people, addressing specific requirements, and delivering measurable results. This is where AI-based LMS platforms come into play, transforming rigid training portals into intelligent systems that learn and evolve in tandem with your business.

So, when does your company actually require one? And how do you choose or design a solution that will be successful in the long term?

What is an AI-Powered LMS?

An AI-based LMS begins with the well-proven architecture of a traditional learning management system—course authoring, content display, and user management—and pairs it with the flexible intelligence of modern AI technology. The result is a solution that doesn’t merely display learning content, but engages the learner as an individual, evolves according to their needs, and improves the process with time.

In practice, the system can real-time adjust learning paths and guide every single person to the best subjects based on their level of capability and performance. Instead of static lists of courses, students receive clever suggestions of material that engages and inspires them, like how a streaming service suggests the next program you would enjoy. Automatically, AI can also grade and provide feedback, providing immediate feedback on quizzes or assignments and rescuing teachers from repetitive evaluation work.

From an analytical perspective, predictive software tracks against goals, identifies areas of knowledge deficiency, and even predicts possible issues ahead of time before they affect performance. Students can search for content in simple, natural language—typing or speaking out questions as if asking a human—while artificially intelligent chatbots or virtual instructors wait to help answer questions and advise around the clock.

Instead of pushing everyone through a locked, one-size-fits-all system, an AI-powered LMS builds a dynamic, customized experience. It learns at the pace of the learner, listens to their tastes, and changes with their progress. The end result is training that is less lectured and more conversational, responsive, interactive, and effective at scale and in engagement.

When Does Your Company Need an AI LMS?

A traditional LMS would suffice for compliance training or one onboarding. However, if any of the following scenarios sound familiar, it may be time to switch to an AI LMS:

1. You Have Varied Roles and Skill Levels

If your staff resides across departments, locations, or skill levels, crafting one shared learning experience is a plain challenge. An AI LMS is able to segment users by behavior, role, or department and automatically combine and blend content that meets specific needs.

2. Training Needs Change Frequently

Industries like healthcare, tech, and finance face constantly evolving regulations and skills requirements. AI can help keep training materials current by flagging outdated content and suggesting updates. It also speeds up the process of rolling out new training company-wide.

3. You’re Experiencing Engagement Drop-off

Low completion and user disengagement rates are common LMS problems. AI reverses this by creating the content to feel personalized and relevant. From progress-based nudges to gamified challenges and adaptive quizzes, the learning process becomes more participative.

4. You Want Better Learning Insights

With a conventional LMS, you’re stuck with basic metrics like course completion and log-in rate. AI-driven systems track micro-behaviors—how long a learner spends on a topic, where they struggle, and what content leads to mastery—so managers can act with data.

How to Build or Choose the Perfect Solution

If you’re sure that your business is prepared to adopt an AI-powered LMS, the next thing then is choosing the proper strategy. There are usually two paths: off-the-shelf systems or tailored systems.

Off-the-Shelf vs. Custom LMS

There are some out-of-the-box AI LMS options to choose from. They’re often cheap and simple to set up, but occasionally not customizable enough for advanced enterprise needs. You may end up bending your workflow to accommodate the tool instead of the other way around.

By contrast, a custom learning management system allows you to design features to your very business processes, roles, and content requirements. You choose the AI components that fit you (recommendation engine, chatbot, analytics) and stitch them seamlessly into your systems of record (CRM, HR, payroll, etc.).

A well-executed custom LMS is more scalable and future-proof, especially for mid-to-large organizations that view learning as a strategic asset rather than a compliance task.

What Features to Look For

Whether you’re buying or building, a modern AI-powered LMS should include:

  • Personalization Engine: Tailors content delivery based on performance and preferences.
  • AI Analytics Dashboard: Delivers real-time insights about learners, courses, and outcomes.
  • Natural Language Processing: Enables users to query and search for content in natural language.
  • Automation Tools: Automates processes like reminders, certification tracking, and content updates.
  • Mobile Compatibility: Enables the system to be accessed on devices.

You might also want to include other AI-based accessibility tools (e.g., voice input or text-to-speech), which aid in WCAG compliance and accessibility for learning.

Who Can Help You Get There?

If your in-house team is not AI or enterprise-class LMS architecture-expert, it’s well worth partnering with a successful development company.

Best-in-class top AI software development companies do more than write code—they offer strategic expertise, agile development, and a proven education technology background. 

Choose a vendor that:

  • Has LMS development experience across various industries.
  • Strong UI/UX capability.
  • Strong AI/ML capabilities.
  • Security and compliance focus.
  • Maintenance and support in the long term.

Having a full-service partner ensures your AI integration won’t just work—it’ll be secure, scalable, and aligned to your business goals.

Final Thoughts

AI is no longer a buzzword but a usable tool that can improve learning performance, boost engagement, and allow your company to respond more nimbly to change. For organizations with high turnover, complex skill gaps, or rapid growth, an AI-powered LMS is a smart investment.

Success isn’t just about jumping on the AI bandwagon. It really comes down to thoughtfully weaving it into your learning environment. So, whether you’re updating an existing setup or starting fresh, it’s a good idea to collaborate with people who truly know both learning design and how automation fits in. When the time arrives to switch out your LMS, you’ll want a solution that’s not only clever but also carefully planned, safe, and built to last. It might sound obvious, but these things matter more than you might think.

iScanner’s Office Filter Is Here to Lend Small Businesses a Helping Hand

By
Retail Insider
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The newest iScanner’s feature is designed to mimic the professional and clean look of documents scanned by stationary office devices. This is especially valuable for those who mostly rely on their smartphones to manage their diverse documentation.

iScanner, one of the leading apps in the document scanning and management segment, has launched its newest feature—the Office Filter, which makes mobile scans look as if they were taken by stationary scanners in a regular office environment. For small business owners, who often lack access to the bulky equipment or simply don’t have the space to place it, the feature will be especially useful. The effect of an authentically scanned document is achieved through adding signature artifacts, such as black dots and small lines, to a PDF file. As a result, documents gain a professional look.

The Office Filter was developed specifically to help small businesses appear more solid on the market. According to a survey conducted by iScanner before the feature’s development, businesses operating from a physical office with professional equipment are often viewed as more trustworthy. Besides, half of the interviewed small business owners are convinced that physical offices create a tangible value for clients. As a result, some businesses feel that offering those perfectly scanned documents enhanced with the AI filters of mobile applications isn’t what their clients expect. Most importantly, around 30% of the survey participants expressed their interest in a different filter that adds the effect of an authentically scanned document.

“The goal of our survey was to collect real-life feedback from small business owners. We discovered that some owners find it inconvenient to work with no physical offices. While remote work has become a new standard in the post-COVID years, and mobile apps have proven to be an efficient substitute for stationary office equipment, some clients still expect small businesses to operate from physical offices. When they find that there are no such spaces, they may label such remote businesses as less professional. Our team decided to address this new reality and offer iScanner users a tool to create an illusion of a document scanned by a traditional stationary scanner. We believe that the Office Filter will help businesses build client trust, allowing them to choose how their documents appear,” says Matt Svetlak, Product Director of iScanner.

The Office Filter is currently available on iOS devices to all users. This is an excellent addition to the already established AI-powered iScanner filters that can automatically erase fingers from scans or deblur and polish any documents for high-quality presentation.

iScanner is an award-winning app with over 125 million downloads across iOS and Android devices and a Web version with cross-platform support. The app’s functionality includes scanning paper documents, converting files, editing and e-signing PDFs, splitting PDFs, merging PDFs, and making images editable and interactive via the in-house OCR (Optical Character Recognition), among other powerful AI-based tools.

The iScanner app was developed by BP Mobile (AIBY Group).

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