Today on Total Retail

Understanding Social Media Buying Trends to Drive 2025 Sales
January 29, 2025 at 3:28 pm

The evolution of social media from a personal connection platform to a robust marketplace has unlocked new opportunities for retailers to engage with their customers and boost business growth. This past holiday season, social media’s power to influence purchase decisions was on the rise, according to Sprout Social data. The survey of more than 2,000…

When it Comes to AI, Are You Leading or Lagging?
January 29, 2025 at 3:09 pm

Artificial intelligence is among the most popular conversation topics in marketing today, and retailers are feeling intense pressure for a well-considered point of view and strategy around the technology. In recent roundtable discussions with more than 50 marketing leaders at a global conference, we found a vast range of experiences, organizational commitment to AI, and…

As Retail Breaches Soar, is Your Customer Data Safe?
January 29, 2025 at 2:51 pm

We’ve seen an alarming increase in cyberattacks targeting retail companies in recent years. For example, Hot Topic’s breach of 350 million customers’ data made headlines as the biggest retail breach to date. Unfortunately, this incident isn’t isolated. Breaches are happening more frequently and are growing in severity. Here’s what you need to know to keep…

Retailers Beware: The FTC Fines GOAT for Overpromising and Underdelivering
January 29, 2025 at 11:23 am

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently announced a penalty against online sneaker retailer GOAT for failing to honor its “Instant” and “Next Day” shipping guarantees. According to the FTC’s complaint, GOAT also violated its “Assurance of Authenticity” and “Buyer Protection” promises, rejecting or only partially crediting customers for defective products. The FTC’s case was built around two key…

Amazon Taps Whole Foods CEO to Oversee Grocery Business
January 28, 2025 at 5:06 pm

Amazon.com has tapped Whole Foods CEO Jason Buechel to oversee its sprawling grocery business, the company announced Monday. Buechel became CEO of Whole Foods in 2022 after co-founder John Mackey retired from the company. In his expanded role leading Amazon’s grocery business, Buechel will succeed Tony Hoggett, who left Amazon last October to join Wonder,…

E-Commerce Fraud Growth and Payments’ Role in Fighting it
January 28, 2025 at 2:34 pm

Fraud is a significant issue that retailers are actively trying to combat. And it’s only increasing. Research from March 2024 found that 60 percent of e-commerce merchants experienced a rise in overall fraud levels. What’s the reason? Criminals have taken advantage of the rise of e-commerce by combining it with the fundamental digital skills needed…

How Technology, Omnichannel Strategies, and Social Media Are Transforming Retail
January 28, 2025 at 2:13 pm

The retail landscape is undergoing a monumental transformation, driven by rapid advancements in technology and shifting consumer expectations. At the center of this change lies the integration of omnichannel strategies and the explosive influence of social media in driving sales. To stay relevant and thrive, retailers must embrace these shifts and deliver seamless, personalized and…

How FabFitFun is Optimizing Supply Chain Operations
January 28, 2025 at 1:19 pm

While at the 2025 National Retail Federation Big Show in New York City from Jan. 12-14, Total Retail's Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan had the opportunity to interview Julian Van Erlach, senior vice president of global supply chain at FabFitFun, a lifestyle membership best known for its FabFitFun Box flagship product. In this video interview, Van Erlach…

Top 5 Social and Website Design Trends SMBs Should Adopt in 2025
January 28, 2025 at 1:11 pm

A new survey found three out of four Gen Z and millennial consumers feel a lack of recent updates on a business's social media or blog impacts their trustworthiness. As a small business owner, you should be posting to your social accounts and updating your website at least monthly or risk losing customers' trust. Ideally,…

Beyond the Honeymoon: Sustaining Growth in Retail Media
January 28, 2025 at 12:30 pm

Retail media promised prime shoppers, perfect timing, and unstoppable growth. However, as existing retail media networks mature and others join the marketplace, challenges are emerging. Rising costs, limited on-site inventory, and the need for more robust measurement metrics are prompting marketers to consider how retail media can evolve to sustain its upward trajectory. Retail media…