Today on Total Retail

Continuing its emphasis on low prices, Target said last week it would be adding more than 1,000 low-cost summer items to its product assortment. The products, including swimwear, outdoor items, snacks, drinks and skin care products, will be priced as low as $1 and more than half will be priced below $15. To encourage summer…

First-party data is increasingly necessary for retailers to offer customers the kinds of personalized experiences they expect. Seventy-one percent of consumers say they expect personalized interactions with companies, according to McKinsey, but consumers are also increasingly wary of sharing their personal data with companies. One recent consumer survey found that only 10 percent fully trust…

Fueled by growing numbers of Gen Zers entering the workforce and the resulting disposable income, influencer marketing has grown steadily worldwide — from $1.7 billion in 2016 to $21.1 billion in 2023. In fact, one-third of Gen Zers and one-quarter of millennials have made a purchase in the past three months based on an influencer’s recommendation.…

Despite pandemic savings shrinking, student loan payments kicking back in, inflation remaining a pesky nuisance, and the labor market losing steam, these obstacles haven't deterred consumer spending. In 2023, The Wall Street Journal reported that consumer spending increased 5.8 percent year-over-year, outpacing inflation by 1.8 percent. However, consumers aren’t easily opening their wallets for everyday…

In episode 453 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Kristy Westrup, chief merchandising officer of IPSY, the beauty industry's most powerful marketing platform and the world's largest beauty membership. Listen in as Westrup provides an overview of the company (0:55), discusses her role at IPSY and professional background (2:05), explains how it is…

The TJX Cos. Inc. CEO Ernie Herrman wants to capture additional market share around the world, and he plans to do so by opening more store locations. “We are convinced that significant market share opportunities remain across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia over the long term," Herrman told analysts on Wednesday during the off-price…

The retail landscape has undergone a seismic shift in recent years, propelled by the rocket fuel of ever-evolving buying habits, inflation-driven price sensitivity, and the aftershocks of global conflicts. This article explores the trends that show the evolution of shopper expectations, the challenges faced by marketers, the methods employed for segmentation, and the current and…

After a few turbulent years, the stage has been set for retail’s in-store resurgence — fueled by technology. According to Gartner, retailers are continuing to invest in technology to engage with customers in-store and online — and find new audiences in the process. This spending will focus on marketing and IT functions to target new…

The dark web is the equivalent of the group chat where e-commerce retailers know they’re being talked about but definitely aren’t included. With endless information existing on how to abuse retailer terms and conditions, steal personal data, and more, the dark web has fostered an environment where fraudsters feel comfortable expressing their views and freely…

The pandemic accelerated a massive rise in e-commerce, and with that, retailers have experienced a significant uptick in returns — reaching $743 billion in the U.S. last year alone. This sea change has contributed to both increased costs for retailers and a new era of returns behaviors from shoppers. Many retailers are facing shopper habits…