Today on Total Retail

Starbucks announced last week it is making its entrance into the entertainment industry by starting Starbucks Studios, a new initiative the company said will produce original entertainment and "tell stories that deepen connections and spark conversations." The coffee giant didn't say what kinds of entertainment we can expect, but revealed it is teaming up with…

People are constantly inundated with advertisements — on their devices, on billboards, on public transit, etc. With so many competing messages coming from all angles, brands have to work hard to stand out from the crowd by creating ads that tell a compelling story. One premier culinary appliance retailer was determined to set itself apart…

Inventory management is now easier than ever due to a packaging technology that improves the customer experience: radio frequency identification (RFID). This approach works by including a sticker on items that contains a microchip and antenna that transmits logistics information to receivers. Since this innovative technology constitutes a powerful competitive edge, retailers of all kinds…

Peak season has become increasingly competitive for retailers. As more consumer spending shifts online, a convenient, seamless delivery experience has gone from a differentiator to table stakes. Shoppers expect fast, flexible, inexpensive delivery options. The Baymard Institute reports that 48 percent of cart abandonments are due to high extra costs (like shipping and fees) and…

On April 24, President Biden signed into law the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which had one immediate, if not explicit, purpose: Wrest control of the social media application TikTok from the potential influence of the Chinese government. Whether founded or unfounded, concerns that China might be willing and able to access…

Paper shelf price labels are going away at thousands of Walmart stores. The company announced late last week an expanded rollout of digital shelf labels that will allow it to update prices on over 120,000 items within minutes. Weekly updates to paper shelf labels typically took a store worker about two days. With digital labels,…

For small business retailers, inflation isn't just a number; it’s a real problem that affects their operations and their bottom line. Even as reports of inflation going down make their way into headlines across the country, the average small business owner would disagree. According to FundKite's 2024 SMB Election Year Survey, over half (63 percent)…

When it comes to shopping, every element within a store can contribute to each customer’s overall shopping experience. For example, researchers from the University of Bath found that on weekdays, playing music in grocery stores can increase sales by more than 10 percent. Unsurprisingly, retailers across the globe are exploring how to use background music…

E-commerce activity has shown few signs of slowing since the pandemic-driven surge, compelling retailers to increase investment in digital commerce capabilities and online media networks. Through these networks, retailers are generating incremental advertising revenues by giving brands access to relevant shoppers across their network of websites, mobile applications, and other digital assets.  While online shopping remains extremely…

In the omnichannel retail world, inventory optimization is more important than ever before. Retailers need to get the right products to the right places at the right time to satisfy demand in an efficient and profitable way — no matter how, when or where their customers choose to shop. With this in mind, many retailers…