Today on Total Retail

Increasing customer loyalty is always top of mind for retailers. Loyal customers spend more money at their favorite businesses, patronize shops more often, and promote the brands they love to other consumers in their networks. To create loyal customers, forward-thinking retailers can utilize the tried-and-true gift card to engage customers and enhance buying experiences. In…

Ron Coughlin, who led Petco for five years as the pet retailer's CEO, announced Wednesday he was stepping down from the company and would remain as an advisor to the board. Petco named Michael Mohan, the former Best Buy president and COO, interim CEO while the board conducts a search for a permanent chief executive.…

Emotional intelligence (EQ) refers to recognizing, understanding and managing our emotions and those of others. It enables individuals to regulate their feelings constructively, allowing them to adapt to different environments and handle stress more effectively. Retail environments are often high pressure and fast paced, demanding adaptability and resilience from professionals at all levels. EQ plays…

Navigating the data privacy landscape these days can be daunting, particularly with the continual emergence of new state and federal regulations. We now have 13 state laws signed, and many others to come online in the next year, not to mention sector-specific laws. These have led to hundreds of lawsuits and enforcement actions. Given that…

Research from Morgan Stanley suggests that inventory restocking may face sustained headwinds as companies respond to persistently high interest rates. The report indicates shippers are increasingly reluctant to rebuild inventory, preferring instead to run leaner operations even at the expense of being late on orders. Meanwhile, the enduring drought in the Panama Canal and the escalating conflict in the Red…

Whether we all realize it or not, there has been a shift in the force. We're changing our stripes as a consumer-based society. Where once choice was primarily driven only by factors like quality, price, brand affinity, and even endorsement, now other, larger existential factors are impacting how we make purchase decisions — namely, how…

Kohl’s said Tuesday that it’s teaming up with the owner of Babies R Us to bring baby gear, furniture and more to approximately 200 of its stores across the country, reports CNBC. The department store chain struck a licensing deal with WHP Global, a brand management firm with a portfolio that includes Bonobos, Joe’s Jeans,…

Given the growing returns crisis within the United States' e-commerce and apparel sector, the urgency to address the core issues cannot be overstated. Why? Because a staggering 2.6 million tonnes of returned clothing have amassed in the country, signaling a critical juncture for retailers to rethink their strategies. In 2023 alone, clothing returns soared to…

A human touch holds significant value in the retail customer experience and is important to get right. When done well, a customer’s interaction with in-store staff can increase sales opportunities and drive loyalty. However, a poor interaction can result in the complete opposite. Recently, technology adoption in retail has increased, with 88 percent of senior…

Online grocery shopping has skyrocketed in popularity over the last four years. Today, major grocery store chains like Kroger and Albertsons offer mobile apps to their customers for easy ordering or delivery. Separately, third-party services such as Instacart work with shoppers to get their groceries delivered to their homes. This convenience and efficiency have turned…