Today on Total Retail

FullBeauty Brands Acquires Plus-Size Brand Avenue
June 20, 2024 at 5:15 pm

FullBeauty Brands earlier this week announced that it will acquire Avenue Stores from City Chic Collective Limited, an Australian publicly traded company. Terms were not disclosed. Avenue is a U.S.-based digital specialty retailer of plus-size apparel, targeting value-conscious women aged 25 to 55. The plus-size brand closed its 220-plus store portfolio across 35 states in…

Package Pirates and Phony Products: Loss Prevention Strategies for the E-Commerce Age
June 20, 2024 at 5:07 pm

Online shopping continues to grow in popularity, with over 20 percent of retail purchases expected to take place online in 2024, according to an eMarketer report. As the volume of packages shipped worldwide increases, so do the potential risks, such as damaged or lost packages, fraud and counterfeit, and more. Let’s dive into these growing…

Self-Checkout Doesn’t Stand a Chance Against Fraud. Now What?
June 20, 2024 at 4:34 pm

If you're only now considering methods to reduce the growing rates of self-checkout (SCO) fraud and theft, you might already be two steps behind. According to the 2023 National Retail Security Survey Report sponsored by Appriss Retail, National Retail Federation (NRF), and Loss Prevention Research Council (LPRC), 68 percent of retailers said external theft was…

Cash Flow Conundrum: Why SMBs Are Drowning in Marketplace Accounting
June 20, 2024 at 3:47 pm

The American dream of small business ownership faces a harsh reality: bankruptcies are rising. This past year saw a staggering 22 percent increase in Chapter 11 filings. Higher interest rates, inflation, and increased shipping costs have taken a toll on many segments of the economy. Brands and vendors on leading marketplaces are not immune to these…

AI-Powered Retail: Revolutionizing In-Store Experiences to Meet Modern Consumer Demands
June 20, 2024 at 3:30 pm

According to IBM's 2024 Consumer Study of over 20,000 consumers across 26 countries, only 9 percent of consumers are satisfied with the in-store shopping experience. Despite the enduring presence of physical stores, this widespread discontent stems from a yearning for more seamless technology integration into consumer journeys. As retailers grapple with the implications of this…

Netflix to Open Two Entertainment Venues With Shopping, Dining
June 19, 2024 at 4:57 pm

Netflix announced Tuesday it plans to open two experiential spaces for entertainment, shopping and dining in 2025. Dubbed "Netflix House," the two locations — slated for King of Prussia Mall outside of Philadelphia, and Galleria Dallas in Texas — are marketed as a "year-round home for fans to live the stories they love." A company…

Cracking the Gen Z Code: How to Transform Trendsetters Into Brand Advocates
June 19, 2024 at 4:45 pm

Despite cautious optimism about the economy leading to increased spending, rising prices are causing consumers to tighten their belts, resulting in fewer purchases across categories. However, a glimmer of hope exists for businesses: the rising spending power of Gen Z. This generation happily mixes brand names from familiar stores, like Target or Macy’s, with lesser-known…

The Secret to Increasing Conversion at Checkout? Not Focusing on Conversion
June 19, 2024 at 4:21 pm

Today’s consumers crave personalized shopping experiences, as retailers are well aware. After all, these heightened demands are what have led most brands to invest significant time and resources to customize how consumers shop, ranging from suggesting relevant products and reminding shoppers when to replenish products, to creating interactive experiences to help shoppers identify and discover…

How Retailers Can Create a Strategy to Address Non-Shopper Populations
June 19, 2024 at 10:02 am

As retailers compete to attract customers and earn their loyalty, the in-store experience is undeniably a key differentiator. Since 80 percent of shopping still happens at brick-and-mortar locations, retailers are rapidly deploying a clever mix of new technologies and redesigned in-store experiences to appeal to consumers. Despite these innovations, however, there is an ever-present risk…

Beyond Incremental Revenue: A Nuanced Approach to Assessing Marketing Channels
June 19, 2024 at 9:23 am

One of the biggest questions brands ask when considering a new marketing channel is, “How much incremental revenue is it expected to contribute?” It's certainly an important consideration, as incremental revenue directly influences retailer margins and profitability. However, incremental revenue isn't the only game in town which is why retailers should adopt a more layered…