Today on Total Retail

Kohl's customers can now get same-day delivery thanks to a partnership between the department store chain and Instacart, the companies reported last week. Customers can now place scheduled or same-day delivery orders for 1,172 Kohl’s locations nationwide. Kohl's rewards can also be earned through Instacart purchases . “With Kohl’s as one of the first department…

Everyone knows product returns are a problem, but now the National Retail Federation (NRF), in research with Appriss Retail, has spelled it out in stark terms: total returns for the retail industry amounted to $743 billion in merchandise in 2023. In addition, the total return rate as a percentage of sales in 2023 was 14.5…

Mastering inventory for special events and seasonality is a key ongoing challenge for retailers of every kind and size. The ebb and flow of sales during festive seasons, promotions, shopping days, and holidays can pose significant hurdles for inventory management. Retailers often find themselves grappling with excess inventory after a season or scrambling to meet…

In today’s world, cars, homes and even clothes are connected to the internet. Smart devices are so intertwined into everyday life that we often take them for granted. But what happens when technology doesn’t work as expected? Houses may not heat up, cars can accelerate unexpectedly, and smart locks might fail to open. And that’s…

Small business owners increasingly use advanced generative artificial intelligence tools to enhance digital marketing strategies and maintain a competitive edge. iStock’s VisualGPS research reveals that 42 percent of SMBs and SMEs already leverage AI-generated content to strengthen their online presence, highlighting a growing recognition of AI's potential for e-commerce success. Learning about the data that…

Macy’s has chosen 26 entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities for its 2024 vendor accelerator program, known as “The Workshop at Macy’s,” reports Yahoo Finance. Each participant completing the program receives a $5,000 business grant, and the winner of a pitch contest will get a $100,000 grant, per a Macy’s press release. In addition to getting access…

Customer motivations were long regarded as an unmeasurable mystery for retailers. However, the retail industry’s embrace of physical-digital shopping experiences has changed that, putting “shopper preferences” firmly in the camp of measurable metrics. These insights have helped retailers develop a more nuanced understanding of their shoppers’ needs and preferences in the context of the sales…

Retail operations have traditionally been plagued by outdated processes and use of paper-based logbooks, setting retail brands back in terms of productivity and performance. Nowadays, the emergence of digitization, including the use of artificial intelligence to accelerate data analysis and decision making, is automating those traditionally tedious retail processes, enhancing visibility and lowering costs for…

Every marketer is painfully aware that it’s never been more difficult to grab a consumer’s attention. Some research even suggests that the average goldfish has a longer attention span than the average human. So how do retail brands capture attention, let alone grow their conversions and, by extension, their sales? Video has long been considered…

Over a decade ago, the mobile phone revolutionized e-commerce and shaped the importance of mobile-first shopping experiences, data collection, and trust. With consumers now expecting personalization from brands, retailers are racing to deliver one-to-one experiences to grab their attention and loyalty. Here are three ways retailers can harness the power of AI to transform the…