Today on Total Retail

Kroger sued the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Monday, seeking to block the regulator from reviewing the grocery chain's proposed $25 billion merger with smaller rival Albertsons in its in-house tribunal. Kroger called the tribunal unconstitutional, saying the matter should be resolved in a federal court. The lawsuit filed in Cincinnati comes a week…

Social media’s constant evolution is driven by innovative technology like artificial intelligence and data to take targeted retail marketing to the next level. Mainstream social platforms like TikTok and Instagram are enabling brands to provide customized and unique content to users, and each generation is getting influenced by “trending” products. The rise of social selling…

Retail companies everywhere know that sustainability is a necessity in business today. And yet, a study showed that at the end of 2023, roughly 40 percent of North American senior sourcing managers ignored sustainability in their operations. Furthermore, 37 percent were unaware of sustainability-related legislation impacting their business. As the business case for sustainability becomes…

If you're familiar or have read up about artificial intelligence, it’s likely you’ve heard about large language models (LLMs), a type of AI that's used to analyze large amounts of data and generate text. However, you may not be as familiar with a newer phrase that's becoming more common: small language models (SLMs). SLMs are…

Retail execution, from “mom-and-pop shops” to mass retailers, has operated with a simple goal in mind: keep products on the shelf and customers satisfied. However, the methods to achieve this goal have undergone a dramatic transformation. What used to be manual processes — literally pen to paper — have evolved into sophisticated systems that leverage…

LL Flooring has announced that it will close 94 stores in more than 30 states as it filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company, formerly known as Lumber Liquidators, said that it is nearly $110 million in long-term debt in filings made in Delaware bankruptcy court on Sunday. The Richmond, Virginia-based company said in the filings…

Despite recent progress in reducing inflation, prices are still high and consumers remain under pressure. Excess savings accumulated during the pandemic have been depleted for a substantial part of the population and credit card delinquencies have reached record levels. We’re also seeing a reduction in job openings and wage growth, among other moderating indicators. As…

In recent years, geopolitical events have exposed the fragility of global supply chains. The pandemic, the Russia/Ukraine war, and the Israel/Gaza conflict have starkly demonstrated the vulnerabilities of supply lines. Designed primarily to minimize costs by leveraging low-cost labor and materials, these networks are easily disrupted by geopolitical events. To better understand the dynamics reshaping…

As marketers continue to navigate Q3, standout direct mail offers play an increasingly pivotal role in driving audience response and boosting overall program performance. It is the “deal” you present to your recipients, signaling what you will provide in exchange for their response. A compelling offer motivates action, while a lackluster offer may be easily…

Stricter Enforcement of the ACE Entry Type 86 program In response to findings of counterfeit goods, illegal substances and misclassified shipments, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is intensifying enforcement of the ACE Entry Type 86 program, which exempts U.S.-bound shipments valued under $800 from duties and taxes. Now, Entry Type 86 needs to be…