Today on Total Retail

The parent of Saks Fifth Avenue sealed a $2.65 billion deal to buy rival Neiman Marcus, according to people familiar with the matter, creating a powerhouse in luxury retailing that seeks to hang onto wealthy shoppers — all with a little help from Amazon.com. Amazon and Salesforce will take minority stakes in the combined company, to…

The retail sector in 2024 faces a confluence of transformative forces. Geopolitical tensions, intricate supply chains and economic fluctuations have created a complex landscape. Challenges like inflation, rising interest rates, and escalating living costs directly influence consumer purchasing power. The e-commerce boom and evolving post-pandemic consumer behavior further reshape market dynamics, presenting both opportunities and…

“Hello Mr Yakomoto, welcome back to The Gap. How did those assorted tank tops work out for you?” Ever since Tom Cruise walked into The Gap as pre-crime chief John Anderton and was greeted by a 3D hologram asking him about his purchase from an eye scan, the "Minority Report" became an instant "future of…

Subscription programs are everywhere. From entertainment and groceries, to fashion, wellbeing, education, and certainly in retail. Amazon Prime boasts approximately 150 million subscribers and Costco has 128 million. Walmart+ hovers around 25 million and could bring in an extra $160 billion in revenue by 2027 if it maintains its current growth. And Target has entered…

If small business owners could clone themselves to be in multiple locations executing five critical tasks at once, most probably would. Especially if that meant they could spend more face time with customers. Carson Searcy, owner of CBS Sports, an outdoor and sporting goods independent retailer in Morganton, NC, is no exception. From kayaks and…

Beauty brand e.l.f. has expanded its partnership with virtual world and gaming platform Roblox to include real-world commerce, reports PYMNTS. In the new virtual kiosk within the e.l.f. Up! experience on Roblox, which is powered by Walmart, U.S. visitors can buy a Roblox-exclusive limited-edition physical product — a hoodie — as well as a selection…

As we approach the holiday season, retailers and logistics service providers (LSPs) like freight forwarders and warehouses are placing their respective orders to secure the availability of merchandise before shoppers add to their carts. This year, the holiday consumer landscape is slightly different. With U.S. businesses gearing up to import more goods now compared to…

A quick confession: I love the mall. I love the more tangible entertainment and leisure aspects of it. Walking around aimlessly is calming and creates a built-in way to take time for myself while shopping. I can’t always say the same about shopping online these days which, in my experience, puts me in a more…

Third-party commerce (3P) is growing. U.S. retail e-commerce sales will grow to $588 billion by 2027, with online marketplaces accounting for nearly 40 percent of those gains, according to eMarketer. 3P commerce allows brands to reach consumers directly through retailer marketplaces. However, it can be difficult for brands to effectively manage their presence across multiple…

The ability to offer personalized shopping experiences has long been a cornerstone of digital marketing success. Brands often target specific segments within their ideal market demographics when executing digital ad buying and customer relationship activities like email and SMS marketing. So why don't brands also create segmented versions of their digital storefront(s)? The practical challenges…