E-Commerce

Retail Sales Increase Slightly in April, But Less Than Forecast
May 16, 2023 at 8:01 pm

Consumers barely kept up with inflation in April, as retail sales increased but fell short of expectations, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday. The advanced sales report showed an increase of 0.4 percent, below the Dow Jones estimate for 0.8 percent. Excluding auto-related figures, sales increased 0.4 percent, which was in line with expectations. As the numbers are not…

Luxury Online Retailers Must Deliver a VIP Experience From Storefront to Doorstep
May 2, 2023 at 5:03 pm

The in-store experience has always been a big part of luxury goods retailing. You can immerse yourself in the elegance of a store’s décor and merchandise, and some retailers create full sensory experiences in their spaces — from signature scents in the air to complimentary beverages in the shopper’s hand. Even window shopping at a…

An Increase in Online Purchasing Means Focusing on Customer Service
April 26, 2023 at 12:15 pm

E-commerce is gradually becoming the preferred shopping medium for consumers. In 2023, nearly 21 percent of purchases are expected to happen online, amounting to more than $6.3 billion in total spending. Today’s shoppers can do almost anything on a computer or mobile device: collaborate with co-workers, buy groceries, and even purchase a new car. As…

Wayfair CTO Fiona Tan on Product Discovery and Seamless Shopping
April 12, 2023 at 4:58 pm

While at Shoptalk 2023 in Las Vegas last month, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviewed Fiona Tan, chief technology officer at Wayfair, to learn about how the furniture and home decor retailer is optimizing product discovery across its sales channels. She details her role at the organization, how Wayfair is using technology to serve the right products to the right customers,…

3 E-Commerce Trends to Capitalize Upon in 2023
April 6, 2023 at 5:57 pm

As we begin the second quarter of 2023, global supply chain disruptions and geopolitical conflicts continue to foster uncertainty in the retail marketplace. Add inflation, nationwide labor shortages, and an increasingly competitive landscape to the mix and many e-commerce retailers are struggling to get the goods they need when they need them, and to deliver…

Rokt Exec Shares How Retailers Can Optimize E-Commerce Checkout UX
April 5, 2023 at 4:38 pm

In this episode of Total Retail Tech Insights, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Ashley Firmstone, senior vice president of customer success at Rokt, the global leader in e-commerce technology. Listen in as Firmstone discusses the solutions Rokt provides for retailers (1:02), how the technology company helps improve the shopper purchase journey (4:10), and how improving the online…

The Inflation Crisis is Reshaping E-Commerce. Here’s What Retailers Need to Know.
March 26, 2023 at 8:34 pm

From Sydney to San Francisco and everywhere in between, global shoppers are struggling to keep up with the increasing cost of living. Inflation is leading to rising costs for food, fuel and heating, leading to serious consequences for businesses and consumers alike. In the shadow of the current downturn, Mirakl aimed to understand how the…

How to Future-Proof an E-Commerce Brand to Thrive
March 23, 2023 at 10:06 am

2023 has brought ongoing uncertainty for e-commerce businesses, given the challenging macroeconomic environment, a rapidly changing advertising industry, high inflation, and increasingly budget-conscious consumers. And with customer acquisition costs (CACs) rising 222 percent over the past eight years, many retailers and brands will be rethinking their marketing investments. In today’s economic and consumer climate, e-commerce…

Retailing in a Recession: E-Commerce Tips to Weather the Storm
March 22, 2023 at 6:34 pm

Despite a difficult 2022, wrought with soaring inflation and mass layoffs, the retail industry ended the year in decent shape with a solid holiday return. However, an economic downturn looms large, as experts predict a 64 percent chance of a U.S. recession in the coming months. Naturally, this spells trouble for retailers as Americans tend…