Today on Total Retail

Walgreens plans to close a large share of its U.S. stores over the next three years, CEO Tim Wentworth said on a conference call with industry analysts on Thursday. Wentworth described a quarter of the company's 8,500 stores as "underperforming," saying the pharmacy chain would close a "significant portion" of those locations. The exact number…

In baseball, player success is measured in statistics like batting average, on-base percentage and runs batted in. Advertising has its own metrics for success (as many as in baseball), from leads generated to total engagement, cost per acquisition to cost per thousand impressions. However, one that should be retired like a pitcher with a shaky…

Forward-thinking CPG and retail brands like Jiant, Kudos and Sienna Naturals continue to grow through consistent consumer connection and a steadfast commitment to building authentic communities. These brands show strong year-over-year growth, possess loyal customer bases, and prioritize strategic public collaboration efforts, very often through genuine celebrity and influencer partnerships. To cut through the noise…

Account takeover (ATO) fraud costs businesses and consumers billions. ATOs happen when an unauthorized party accesses an online account. This type of fraud has victimized nearly 30 percent of Americans and caused $13 billion in financial losses in 2023 alone. The damage extends beyond money to reputation and consumer trust. The ATO threat is growing.…

In the early 2000s, as smartphones and internet access transformed shopping habits, Best Buy revitalized its brand with a buy-online-pick-up-in-store (BOPIS) option, offering pickup within 45 minutes. At the time, Best Buy’s strategy was considered a bold and innovative response to customers shifting omnichannel purchasing preferences. Today, this experience is par for the course, offered…

Shoptalk 2024 buzzed with innovation. One central theme emerged as the standout from the show: leveraging artificial intelligence to create a future-proof retail experience. Although the industry conversation around AI isn't new, this year marked a shift from discussing the potential of the technology to showcasing business use cases of how brands are harnessing the…

Unified commerce, omnichannel, multichannel and cross-channel may seem like buzzwords or different versions of the latest corporate jargon, but what they all refer to is the absolute need for brands to create a seamless, customer-centric experience everywhere and anywhere a shopper interacts with a brand. A recent survey finds that over the past year, omnichannel…

Poor supply chain management can cost businesses time and money many times, with issues like inventory inaccuracies, complex and laborious processes, and security concerns holding enterprises back. Traditional supply chain management tools, like barcodes and manual counts, have limitations and can often lead to inefficiencies. And for the past several years, geopolitical and economic instability…

Retail shrinkage accounts for $94.5 billion in losses annually for the U.S. retail industry. However, it's not the only theft the sector needs to worry about. The 2024 Verizon DBIR found that credentials are the most frequently breached data in the retail industry. Cybercriminals continue to focus on stealing credentials due to the ease of obtaining them and because password…

Amazon.com announced its 10th Prime Day for this summer, happening July 16-17 and limited once again to those with a Prime membership. Meanwhile, competitive retailers like Walmart, Target, and Best Buy are countering Prime Day with their own discounts leading up to and during that same week. Prime Day starts at midnight on July 16…