Today on Total Retail

Target has announced its plans for this summer's 2024 Pride Month, despite backlash it experienced during 2023 Pride season. At the time, people destroyed signage and merchandise and confronted store workers. As a result, Target pulled items from its Pride Collection off shelves that had been at the center of the most significant confrontational behavior. This,…

In episode 451 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Toral Patel, vice president of marketing and e-commerce at Kopari Beauty, a skin and body care brand focused on clean beauty products. Listen in as Patel provides an overview of the company and her role within the organization (1:00), the factors that have contributed…

Once the purview of science fiction, artificial intelligence (AI) has now permeated our everyday lives — from the home devices that recommend songs for our playlists, to the apps we use to monitor commuter traffic, to the chatbots that pop up to ask if we need any help. Unbeknownst to many consumers, AI has become…

Mastercard’s latest salvo in the battle against first-party fraud is the First Party Trust program, a savvy tool aimed at what’s often called “friendly fraud” or first party misuse. This type of fraud, where customers claim legitimate charges are fraudulent, is not just a thorn in the side of merchants — it’s a hefty burden…

We're so excited to feature Cindy Carlisle, executive vice president and chief human resources officer (CHRO) of Foot Locker, Inc. in the Women in Retail Inner Circle Q&A this week. In her role, Carlisle oversees the development and execution of Foot Locker's global HR strategy. Prior to joining Foot Locker, she served as group vice…

Retail sales grew modestly from the month before in April, but a shift in the timing of Easter appeared to be behind a slight year-over-year decline, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, powered by Affinity Solutions, released today by the National Retail Federation (NRF). Total retail sales, excluding automobiles and gasoline, were up 0.26 percent seasonally…

Keeping up with nanosecond social media trends is a never-ending challenge for retail brands and shoppers. In addition to responding to these fast-paced microtrends, merchandisers face increased pressure to incorporate cutting-edge personalization techniques that drive authentic shopping experiences and cultivate brand loyalty. So, what’s the answer to remaining innovative and on-trend in 2024? According to…

In this episode of Retail Right Now, Total Retail's Joe Keenan and Kristina Stidham discuss a recently released report from NAPCO Research and Blackhawk Network, 2024 Digital Gift Card Leaders, U.S. Edition. This seventh annual report is the market-leading resource on the gift card industry. The comprehensive benchmark study offers readers a thorough assessment of…

Let’s be honest: Who doesn’t love snagging a new coat for 25 percent off? Consumers expect promotions from retailers — it’s a market reality exacerbated by the current economy. However, brands trying to maintain reputations and margins can’t pin their entire sales strategy on promotions. In addition to cutting into margins, perpetual sales promotions negatively…

As the retail industry has increasingly shifted to digital technology, transitioning from traditional brick-and-mortar stores to online platforms, consumers have changed both where and how they shop. Augmented reality apps allow customers to visualize products in their homes before purchasing, and retailers use artificial intelligence-driven recommendations to tailor suggestions to individual tastes. The integration of…