Today on Total Retail

Advance Auto Parts is closing more than 700 locations to shore up the company’s finances following another dismal earnings report, reports CNN Business. The car parts retailer, which has about 5,000 stores, said Thursday that the closures are part of its “strategic plan to improve business performance.” The reduction will result in closing roughly 500…

Optimized inventory management is essential to retailers and CPG (consumer packaged goods) brands throughout the supply chain, with each touchpoint impacting operational efficiency and profitability. At times, drones have been at the forefront of discussion around inventory management within distribution center environments, notably for their potential to autonomously carry out inventory checks. However, a closer…

The CrowdStrike incident this past summer sent ripples across industries, exposing cybersecurity vulnerabilities that affected businesses of all sizes. Here’s how retailers can learn from the incident ahead of the busiest season of the year. In the Wake of CrowdStrike ... With Cyber Monday just around the corner, the pressure is on for e-commerce performance.…

There’s been a seismic shift in retail over the past five decades and I’ve had the privilege of a front-row seat. As a Harvard Business School (HBS) student in 1971, I was already captivated by the world of retail. Between my first and second years at HBS, I had the privilege of working at Bloomingdale's,…

For marketers, no time is more crucial than the holiday season to connect with consumers through personalized offers and messages. This year, personalization is more powerful than ever, with Optimove Insights data showing a 227 percent increase in email engagement due to tailored content. A remarkable 36 percent of consumers say they open marketing emails…

Customer experience (CX) is the bedrock of brand loyalty in the retail space, and cultivating an experience customers continually come back to has become a highly competitive practice. Product value and price, though important, are no guarantee customers will choose a brand consistently. Connections, interactions, personalized service and seamless experiences across all touchpoints are essential.…

Qurate Retail Group, the parent company of QVC and HSN, among other brands, will rebrand as QVC Group as it shifts focus to social media and livestreaming. The company plans on changing its name in the first quarter of 2025 to strengthen the equity of its flagship brand. The move will also mark the transition…

This holiday shopping season promises to be another marathon for e-commerce brands, filled with the expected twists and turns that a three-month shopping period brings. Although, while an extended shopping period might sound like good news for e-commerce brands wanting to capitalize on the season, one already prominent thorn in the side threatens to dampen…

The holiday season is a critical time for small and midsize businesses (SMBs). For many, it’s a major revenue driver, helping to meet year-end goals and set the stage for the new year. However, it’s also one of the most stressful (and busy) times of the year, especially if you’re an entrepreneur in the retail…

Consumers provided a positive start to the 2024 holiday season, boosting October online sales over last year. This is despite shoppers leaning on discounts and trading down for more affordable items to stretch their gift-giving budgets, according to holiday data from commerce protection provider Signifyd. The October figures matched Signifyd’s earlier projection of a 5…