Startups

The New Next Gen: Women Reinventing Their Careers in Retail
March 18, 2021 at 7:05 pm

In this episode of Retail Right Now, Total Retail's Melissa Campanelli and Kristina Stidham discuss a new report produced by Total Retail's sister brand, Women in Retail Leadership Circle. The New Next Gen: The Women Who Have Transitioned Their Careers for a Successful Second Act, celebrates 21 women who have reinvented themselves and their careers after…

Why Saying ‘No’ Helps Build Great Customer Experiences
January 25, 2021 at 1:37 pm

In the early days of a startup, founders almost unanimously have one common goal: growth. There’s an innate hunger amongst us, a thirst to land that huge customer or to achieve that next big milestone.  For many of us, we’re driven by that pursuit. The most successful founders are generally those who reach their goal…

Lessons Learned After Years in E-Commerce
December 9, 2020 at 3:28 pm

When my wife and I started a small e-commerce business in our living room seven years ago, we could have never imagined that we would grow it into a $100 million online fashion retailer. This journey has been full of ups and downs, opportunities and missteps. I couldn’t be more grateful for what we’ve achieved…

How Abbio is Meeting the Needs of New Home Cooks During COVID
November 16, 2020 at 6:43 pm

In episode 273 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Jonathan Wahl, co-founder and CEO of Abbio, a new direct-to-consumer (D-to-C) kitchenware brand with a mission to inspire home cooks through a combination of accessible, professional-grade cookware; unique recipes; and educational tools. Listen in as Wahl discusses Abbio's mission and business, his professional background and…

Top Women in Retail Over the Years (Plus Female Founders)
April 9, 2019 at 2:09 pm

Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC), sister brand of Total Retail, recently released its ninth annual list of the Top Women in Retail. This annual feature, a joint effort of Total Retail and WIRLC, shines a spotlight on the women leading some of the top retail organizations and brands in the industry today. Over the course of the…

FashionPass Sues Rent the Runway, Cites an ‘Anti-Competitive Scheme’
March 27, 2019 at 12:50 pm

FashionPass, an Los Angeles-based fashion rental business, filed a lawsuit Tuesday against fashion rental service leader Rent the Runway, reports Footwear News. The suit alleges Rent the Runway "embarked upon a wrongful, anti-competitive scheme and conspiracy to eliminate competition from FashionPass, rather than fairly competing against FashionPass in the marketplace," according to an email sent…

Why Industry Disruptor Dirty Lemon is Investing in Physical Retail
March 3, 2019 at 11:25 am

In episode 185 of Total Retail Talks, Executive Editor Joe Keenan interviews Zak Normandin, founder and CEO of Iris Nova, parent company of innovative beverage brand Dirty Lemon, which sells it products via a direct-to-consumer conversational commerce model. Normandin addresses retail and grocery/CPG industry disruption, the future of text messaging as a commerce channel, and…

What Sets D-to-C Brands Apart From Traditional Retail
February 20, 2019 at 9:09 am

Recently, it’s been impossible to walk down a city street, ride the subway or scroll through Instagram without coming across an ad for a popular new direct-to-consumer (D-to-C) brand. These industry disruptors are positioning themselves independently from the retail giants that once owned the space, and instead selling straight to the consumer. From toothbrushes and mattresses…

A Chat With Jeremy Parker, Founder of Swag.com
January 7, 2019 at 10:43 am

Jeremy Parker is the founder of Swag.com, a custom promotional products e-commerce retailer. He spoke with Avenue Code about the importance of passionate entrepreneurship and of focusing on consumers’ core needs. Anna Vander Wall: Swag.com customizes an impressive breadth of promotional products for Facebook, Google, Amazon.com, WeWork, Microsoft, Harry’s, Starbucks, Netflix, and more. How did…