Today on Total Retail

It’s no secret that today’s consumers crave experiences, interactions and benefits beyond cookie-cutter promotional emails that use their first names. Retailers recognize this desire from customers and so continue collecting their data to create improved membership programs and personalized experiences. Nevertheless, customers remain unsatisfied. Why? Consumers believe loyalty flows in only one direction, from the…

Small e-commerce merchants are becoming prime targets for sophisticated fraud attacks despite many believing they're too insignificant to attract cybercriminals' attention. In reality, these small businesses are increasingly vulnerable precisely because of their limited fraud prevention resources. Recently, it was revealed that fraudsters are employing sophisticated tactics. They're now impersonating legitimate small merchants, stealing videos,…

The digital advertising world is under pressure — and not just from changing consumer behavior or rising acquisition costs. The real shakeup is happening in courtrooms. Antitrust lawsuits against Google and Meta are challenging the core of how digital ads work. These aren’t abstract legal battles. They’re going after the mechanics of targeting, measurement and…

If you're in retail, here’s a wake-up call you can’t afford to ignore: customer satisfaction peaks at 8 a.m. However, by 7 p.m., it’s in steep decline. Sundays, in particular, see the lowest sentiment across the board. These insights are grounded in over 57 million real-time customer feedback responses gathered globally, featured in HappyOrNot’s new…

Macy's cut its full-year profit guidance on Wednesday despite higher-than-expected quarterly earnings, saying in a news release it would hike prices to offset tariffs. CNBC reported that the department store chain reduced its earnings outlook because of higher tariffs, more promotions, and "some moderation" in discretionary spending. Macy's generated $4.6 billion in sales in the…

Today’s younger shoppers expect more than just a product. They want an experience tailored to their preferences and values. Personalization has become the key to capturing their attention and ensuring their loyalty. Brands that understand this can create a deeper connection and stand out in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Shopping Habits That Reflect New Expectations…

Historically, retail success has always hinged on location. However, as technology continues to evolve and the marketplace becomes more competitive than ever, being in the right place means more than proximity to a high-traffic corridor. Traditional tools, like static radius maps and traffic counts, are no longer sufficient for predicting performance. Instead, leading retailers are…

In this episode of Total Retail Tech Insights, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Megan McDonagh, chief marketing officer at Wpromote, a top independent marketing agency that challenges convention to accelerate growth for brands. Listen in as McDonagh provides an overview of Wpromote and her career background (1:00), the wide variety of industries the agency serves (3:40),…

A call center is vital to an organization’s relationship with its customers. For many businesses, it serves as the primary touchpoint for customer interactions. As such, optimizing your call center’s efficiency, accessibility and reliability is critical to delivering exceptional customer experiences. However, modern customer service extends far beyond traditional phone calls. While the term “call…

In today’s economic environment, retailers have the ever-growing challenge of competing for consumer dollars while still attempting to maintain a profit amid rising costs. Now more than ever, affordability is guiding consumer decisions, with sale opportunities and secondhand shopping dominating the landscape. For retailers looking for a competitive edge, the circular economy offers a smart…