Today on Total Retail

As digital commerce continues to evolve, gift cards have transformed into a strategic engagement tool for merchants. The 2025 edition of the Best Digital Gift Card Programs report, produced by Blackhawk Network and NAPCO Research, offers a deep dive into how 100 U.S. brands are optimizing their digital gift card programs — and which ones…

Every brand aims to capitalize on key moments throughout the year, whether they be seasonal sales, product launches or cultural events. However, the lives of brand customers are busier than ever. Inboxes are overflowing and social feeds crowd out or dilute messages and key information that no longer resonates as it once did. Yet marketers…

Tractor Supply Company, the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the United States, announced the launch of Tractor Supply Rx, the company’s pet and animal pharmacy offering. Customers can now shop for pet and animal medications, enroll in automatic delivery through the Autoship program, and access expert pharmacy advice via the online pharmacy. From pet wash…

In today's volatile and uncertain business environment, retail supply chain executives face numerous challenges in optimizing inventory and making intelligent supply chain decisions. The ever-changing supply chain management landscape requires agility, strategic planning, and the integration of advanced technologies to stay competitive and meet evolving consumer expectations. Define Your Supply Chain Aspirations Identifying your supply…

Retailers are embracing generative artificial intelligence, social media, and augmented reality to foster competitive differentiation, earn new customers and keeping existing ones. The balancing act between innovation and risk has never been more complex. Consumers demand convenience and personalization at unprecedented levels — driven by cutting-edge technologies — but these advancements often introduce new vulnerabilities.…

If there’s one thing marketers love, it’s a shiny new object. Today, it’s longer TikTok videos outperforming their bite-sized predecessors. Tomorrow, LinkedIn posts humming along in deafening noise. However, trends have a funny way of swinging like a pendulum — what’s “in” today becomes passé tomorrow. And in this dizzying back-and-forth, the real question is:…

While attending Shoptalk 2025 in Las Vegas last month, Total Retail's Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan had the opportunity to interview Liz Roche, vice president of media and measurement at Albertsons Media Collective, the retail media arm for Albertsons Companies. In the wide-ranging conversation, Roche discusses the mission of Albertsons Media Collective, her role and career background,…

For retailers of all sizes, the key to driving brand recognition and ultimately sales is connecting relevantly with consumers by meeting them where they're making purchasing decisions. The expectation of convenience is ever growing among consumers. In fact, 77 percent of U.S. consumers cited convenience, including comfort, speed, accessibility and availability, as a key factor…

U.S. retail sales saw strong growth in March, with consumers rushing to buy big-ticket items like cars as the threat of tariffs — and likely higher costs as a result — loomed large. The U.S. Census Bureau reported Wednesday that overall retail sales in March were up 1.4 percent over the same period last year,…

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…