Today on Total Retail

In episode 479 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Frank Mulcahy, head of sales at Chewy Ads, the retail media network for leading pet retailer Chewy. Listen in as Mulcahy discusses the recent Chewy Ads refresh (1:30), its new key features and functionalities (3:25), and the retail media network's benefits for pet brand…

The impact of lead time variability on supply chain management is a critical factor impacting operational efficiency, cost management and service delivery. Lead time is used in inventory management, production scheduling, order fulfillment and supplier management. It also involves decisions that determine optimal inventory levels, when to place orders and how much to order, stocking policy,…

Are we still leaving hourly workers behind? According to recent research, workplace dissatisfaction is on the rise among the hourly workforce and, unsurprisingly, inflexible scheduling is a primary contributing factor. The same survey found that while 81 percent of salaried workers are satisfied with their flexible work options, just 67 percent of hourly employees report…

While attending Shoptalk 2025 in Las Vegas from March 25-27, Total Retail's Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan had the opportunity to interview Jon Blotner, president of commercial and operations at Wayfair, one of the world's largest home retailers. Blotner discusses the launch of the Wayfair Verified program, the process for identifying products as Wayfair Verified, and its…

Retailers are feeling whiplash after President Donald Trump announced Wednesday he would not be moving forward — at least in the short term — with many of the additional tariffs he had promised would take effect this week. The president took to the social media platform Truth Social to announce a 90-day pause on tariffs…

In this episode of Retail Right Now, Total Retail's Joe Keenan and Marie Albiges share their biggest takeaways from Shoptalk 2025, held from March 25-27 in Las Vegas. They detail the key industry trends discussed on stage at the event as well as the insightful conversations between women leaders at the Women in Retail Pavilion,…

In retail, confidence is a double-edged sword. Our recent industry analysis revealed a startling disconnect: while 93 percent of supply chain leaders entered the 2024 peak season confident they would meet customer expectations, post-season data showed that 58 percent struggled with delivery timing and order accuracy. This 35-point gap between expectation and reality cost retailers…

Product returns continue to be a growing source of friction for the retail industry, with $685 billion in merchandise returned in the U.S. last year. However, retailers can convert these returns into exchanges, while also improving fraud detection and optimizing production selection, by leveraging a combination of advanced artificial intelligence-powered data analytics and customer service…

According to a recent Harris Poll, shopping outpaced both streaming and social media as the top source of pleasure for global consumers. With over half of respondents admitting they keep a mental wish list for future purchases, and nearly three-quarters of millennials and Gen Z preferring online shopping to traditional in-store experiences, it's clear: online…

Clothing and accessories retailers across the United States are delaying orders and freezing hiring ahead of tariff hikes that take effect Wednesday on products imported from Vietnam and China, reports Reuters. These businesses, much like Nike and Lululemon, face an impossible choice: offset the cost of tariffs by raising prices by some 40 percent —…