Today on Total Retail

Tractor Supply Co. communicated via a press release last week that it is eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion roles; withdrawing carbon emission goals; and walking back support for the LGBTQ+ community as part of sweeping changes to environmental, social and governance initiatives. More specifically, the retailer of home improvement equipment, livestock and agricultural supplies for…

In episode 459 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Brett Herskowitz, senior manager of loyalty at The Vitamin Shoppe, the global, omnichannel specialty retailer and wellness lifestyle company. Listen in as Herskowitz provides an overview of The Vitamin Shoppe's revamped loyalty program, Healthy Awards (1:20), the factors that influenced the new program setup…

Just ahead of Amazon Prime day on July 16-17, Walmart kicked off a competitive, paid-membership war with its Walmart+ Week. So, what's in it for U.S. merchants? As the retail giants prepare for a busy sales period, merchants must strategically position themselves to capitalize on events like Amazon Prime Day. Over two-thirds of U.S. small…

A seamless and streamlined customer experience (CX) is everything in retail. Modern consumers want to find, peruse, and buy products easily and conveniently, in-store or online. However, maintaining an enjoyable CX for shoppers can become unfeasible during network outages. Prolonged incidences can jeopardize more than CX; they can impede retailers’ ability to process payments, track…

For e-commerce organizations, protecting payment card data is a top priority. So is maintaining compliance with the PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). With the arrival of PCI DSS 4.0, it’s critical to review your audit readiness, including a thorough assessment of your cardholder data environment (CDE). Segmenting your infrastructure to reduce your auditable footprint…

Walgreens plans to close a large share of its U.S. stores over the next three years, CEO Tim Wentworth said on a conference call with industry analysts on Thursday. Wentworth described a quarter of the company's 8,500 stores as "underperforming," saying the pharmacy chain would close a "significant portion" of those locations. The exact number…

In baseball, player success is measured in statistics like batting average, on-base percentage and runs batted in. Advertising has its own metrics for success (as many as in baseball), from leads generated to total engagement, cost per acquisition to cost per thousand impressions. However, one that should be retired like a pitcher with a shaky…

Forward-thinking CPG and retail brands like Jiant, Kudos and Sienna Naturals continue to grow through consistent consumer connection and a steadfast commitment to building authentic communities. These brands show strong year-over-year growth, possess loyal customer bases, and prioritize strategic public collaboration efforts, very often through genuine celebrity and influencer partnerships. To cut through the noise…

Account takeover (ATO) fraud costs businesses and consumers billions. ATOs happen when an unauthorized party accesses an online account. This type of fraud has victimized nearly 30 percent of Americans and caused $13 billion in financial losses in 2023 alone. The damage extends beyond money to reputation and consumer trust. The ATO threat is growing.…

In the early 2000s, as smartphones and internet access transformed shopping habits, Best Buy revitalized its brand with a buy-online-pick-up-in-store (BOPIS) option, offering pickup within 45 minutes. At the time, Best Buy’s strategy was considered a bold and innovative response to customers shifting omnichannel purchasing preferences. Today, this experience is par for the course, offered…