Today on Total Retail

The holiday season is a time of joy, celebration and increased shopping activity. Unfortunately, it also marks a peak in fraud attempts against retailers. One aspect of this threat is first-party fraud, also known as friendly fraud. This type of fraud occurs when customers dispute legitimate charges on their accounts — whether due to confusion,…

The importance of maintaining high-quality, bug-free websites has never been more critical. A 2024 Chubb survey found that e-commerce sites had a trust rating of 48 percent vs. physical stores, which had a leading 70 percent. Much of this was due to financial fraud (75 percent) or lost payments resulting from glitches in the purchasing…

Amazon.com is facing a potential strike threat just as the holiday rush draws closer to its peak. Taking the wages and working conditions into their own hands, Amazon union workers are preparing to go on strike, after voting overwhelmingly to authorize the resistance. The Amazon workers’ strike is expected to take place at two New…

In episode 471 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Stephen Bailey, chief marketing officer of John Fluevog Shoes, an independent design and retail footwear company based in Vancouver. Listen in as Bailey provides an overview of the unique footwear brand (0:45), fulfilling online orders from its stores (2:25), and his 20-year career history…

Retailers are up against the biggest holiday season yet. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), U.S. holiday sales are projected to generate nearly $1 trillion, representing an increase of about 3 percent year-over-year. To capture this demand, retailers need a prepared, adaptable frontline workforce that can deliver exceptional customer experiences across all channels. In…

Ho ho no! It’s that time of year: holiday returns are on the horizon. Whether a problematic electronic item, an ugly sweater, or a piece of jewelry that missed the mark, around 18 percent — close to $170 billion worth of merchandise — once purchased/gifted/unwrapped, will be heading back to U.S. retailers this holiday season.…

As 2024 draws to a close, it’s time for e-commerce strategists and marketers to think about how e-commerce will likely change in the year ahead. From new ways to use artificial intelligence for customer experience to the acceleration of social commerce, and from hot e-commerce growth markets to strategies for protecting e-commerce brands and customers,…

With the holiday shopping season upon us, retailers are planning the best ways they know how to connect with consumers and build brand relationships that will extend beyond a single purchase — including, ideally, well after the holidays have come and gone. The rub for retailers? Many embrace the same consumer outreach strategies as one…

Albertsons on Wednesday formally terminated its proposed $25 billion merger with Kroger and filed a lawsuit against its supermarket competitor, saying Kroger violated its contract and didn’t follow through on commitments to help get the deal approved. It comes a day after a judge blocked the planned merger. In a news release, Albertsons said Kroger broke…

Millennials and Gen Z represent a significant portion of today’s consumer base, and their preferences are shaping the future of retail, especially in e-commerce. With the peak holiday shopping season upon us, to remain competitive and profitable retailers must align their strategies with the expectations of these younger generations. Meeting their needs not only drives…