Today on Total Retail

Activist investor Barington Capital revealed Monday it has a position in Macy's and wants the company to cut spending, explore selling its luxury brands, and take a hard look at its real estate portfolio. It marks the fourth activist push at the struggling department store in the last decade. The activist has partnered with private equity firm Thor…

Small businesses are an essential part of the global economy. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, they employ almost half of America’s workforce, representing 43.5 percent of the country’s GDP. Their role is just as important as that of a big enterprise when it comes to driving customer satisfaction and keeping local economies afloat.…

As we look ahead to the rest of the holiday shopping season, customer retention is front of mind. As retail has become an increasingly competitive sector with evolving customer expectations and abundant shopping options, retailers must find innovative ways to keep customers engaged and drive brand loyalty. In-store technology — notably digital signage, touchpoints, kiosks,…

The holiday season is upon us, and many brands across the world have launched their festive marketing campaigns with the intent of capturing consumer attention and driving sales. However, recent research we conducted revealed that 89 percent of consumers feel that holiday campaigns launched before October are too early, with 41 percent admitting they don’t…

With the holiday season upon us, retailers are presented with one of the year’s biggest opportunities to drive revenue and customer loyalty. To master this seasonal rush, thoughtful planning across inventory, staffing, marketing and customer experience is key. Here’s how retailers can strategically navigate these elements to make the most of the holiday season. Start…

When it comes to holiday marketing, email remains one of the most powerful tools in a brand’s arsenal. From festive family feasts to last-minute shopping sprees, consumers look to their inboxes for inspiration, offers and solutions during this bustling season. For grocery and CPG marketers, October through December isn't just a peak shopping period —…

Washington D.C.'s attorney general sued Amazon.com on Wednesday, alleging the e-commerce giant excludes certain D.C-area neighborhoods from having access to Prime's fast delivery, according to the lawsuit. Attorney General Brian Schwalb said Amazon had "secretly" excluded two ZIP codes in Washington D.C. from having Prime delivery since 2022, according to a press release from his…

Embedded finance refers to the integration of financial services into non-financial platforms, enabling businesses such as retailers to offer banking, lending, insurance and payment services directly within their existing products. This can improve customer satisfaction, loyalty and open new revenue streams. In fact, one study predicts that embedded finance revenue will increase 148 percent from…

At the top of a retailer’s wish list for the holiday season would surely be that supply meets demand, particularly as the holiday season will have five fewer shopping days than other years. Many retailers are already on it with promotional offers to entice consumers into early holiday shopping. However, early promotions and seasonal spikes,…

How much is bad customer experience really costing you? Most brands, especially ahead of the holiday season, pour a lot of effort into attention-grabbing campaigns, boosting product options and inventory, and becoming hypercompetitive on pricing. While all are important, the issues lie deeper into what makes the holiday shopping season crucial to driving profit and…