Today on Total Retail

While attending Shoptalk 2025 in Las Vegas from March 25-27, Total Retail's Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan had the opportunity to interview Chris Carl, head of marketing, U.S. for AliExpress, an international B-to-C e-commerce platform under the Alibaba Group. Carl discusses his role in growing market share for Alibaba's consumer e-commerce business in the U.S., recent updates…

Social commerce is no longer just a trend; it’s reshaping how consumers discover, evaluate and purchase products. Fueled by younger generations, platforms such as TikTok Shop, Instagram Shops, and YouTube Shopping have transformed shopping into an interactive, content-driven journey. By 2030, the social commerce market is projected to reach $5.32 billion to $8.5 trillion, making…

2025 has so far proven to be a year of regulatory chaos for global supply chains. From the constant whiplash around tariffs and trade exclusions to the EU’s introduction of omnibus legislation for the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), it has been challenging for brands and retailers to keep abreast of all of the…

As retailers refine their 2025 marketing strategies against signs of softening demand, one key priority should be improving shopper engagement and loyalty program return on investment. According to Deloitte’s 2025 U.S. Retail Industry Outlook, six in 10 retail executives anticipate consumers will value price over loyalty this year. This makes it even more critical that…

Lowe's announced on Monday it has agreed to buy Artisan Design Group for $1.33 billion from private equity firm Sterling Group. The deal would help expand Lowe's offering for its professional customers at a time when the company and its rival Home Depot are facing slower demand for home remodels and construction activity. Artisan Design…

Retail mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are rising in 2025, powered by technology, shifting consumer demands, and the need for scale. After a subdued period, global deal activity is bouncing back. Retailers are capitalizing on this momentum to strengthen their digital capabilities and expand market reach. To succeed, they must navigate regulatory scrutiny, harness artificial intelligence-driven…

Amid tightening global regulations targeting forced labor and environmental abuses, companies are under growing pressure to take full responsibility for every link in their global sourcing networks. From the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) to America’s Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), these laws are reshaping how businesses monitor and verify the…

Within retail organizations, the legacy silos that once existed between store teams and digital teams have all but vanished in a post-pandemic reality, with one notable exception: Today’s merchant and retail media teams are locked in a tug-of-war over promotional real estate within stores. These merchant and retail media silos can be just as counterproductive…

Rachel Riley, a UK-based childrenswear brand renowned for its traditional craftsmanship, has dressed royal babies and children for over 30 years. Its products can be found in top department stores, boutiques and luxury websites globally. However, dressing the prince and princess of Wales’ three children doesn’t exclude the business from the same challenging economic conditions…

Walmart-owned Sam’s Club plans to supercharge its expansion by opening about 15 new stores per year going forward and remodeling all of its approximately 600 locations across the country, the warehouse club’s CEO Chris Nicholas said last week. With the boost from those new locations, Sam’s Club aims to double its membership over the next…