Today on Total Retail

Starbucks will pilot a reusable cup program in Petaluma, CA starting in August, the company announced Tuesday in a press release. Partnering with NextGen Consortium, a global consortium that aims to address the world's single-use food packaging waste by advancing the design, commercialization and recovery of packaging alternative, Starbucks will swap single-use cups for reusable…

According to Statista, 73 percent of retailers are already using artificial intelligence, and a further 15 percent are planning to implement the technology over the next 12 months. AI is proving to be a valuable tool within the retail sector, from delivering personalized product recommendations for customers to enhancing inventory-based decision-making and predicting demand, among…

As consumer shopping habits expand beyond weekend trips to the brick-and-mortar store to now include online browsing, detailed product content has continued to grow in importance. It’s often the first impression retailers make and how consumers experience it can mean the difference between a quick bounce from your website and a longer shopping session that…

As we progress into the second half of 2024, uncertainty still looms. For consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies, unpredictable factors like ongoing geopolitical instability and a volatile economy make forecasting trends difficult. We’re likely to see the uncertainty continue, making it hard to achieve the level of visibility that aids companies in their planning. Fundamental…

As the holiday season approaches, brands shipping direct-to-consumer (DTC) or to retailers face the significant challenge of ensuring timely product delivery. The end goal, no matter your e-commerce omnichannel strategy, is to get products in customers' hands by the holiday gift-giving season. Proper forecasting and strategic planning are essential to meet customer expectations and capitalize…

Walmart is seeking to acquire more members for its premium loyalty program, Walmart+, with a 50 percent off deal for a year. The half-off deal lasts through July 18. The timing of the offer strategically leads up to Amazon.com's Prime Day event, which is scheduled for July 16 and 17. Walmart+ subscribers gain early access to major…

Quantum computers are perceived by the public as sophisticated computers designed to solve complex problems more rapidly than conventional computers. It’s thought that these types of computers can only be found in a handful of IT companies outside of universities. However, variations have been developed in the last year to two years. There are now…

The three use cases where the convergence of artificial intelligence and Internet of Things underpinned by event streaming is making a real difference to retailers and their customers are as follows. Enhancing Every Customer Journey Within the Store AIoT enables retailers to intelligently take advantage of in-store and customer data to offer highly customized shopping…

The implementation of transformative artificial intelligence-enabled technology investments is shifting the paradigm for how e-commerce businesses operate. Experts estimate that two-thirds of service providers are already forming cross-functional initiatives to manage generative AI projects. By 2026, 75 percent will be using GenAI to create synthetic customer data, which will be generated by algorithms that mimic real-world…

I have a confession to make: A few weeks ago I found myself buying toys for my kids — toys that they really don’t need. I hadn’t planned the splurge, but as I strolled the charming streets of San Diego, my eyes fell upon an incredible feat of store design: a gigantic wooden puppet, its…