Today on Total Retail

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is preparing to sue to block a luxury fashion mega merger, Tapestry’s $8.5 billion takeover of Capri Holdings, two people with knowledge of the matter said. The FTC’s five commissioners are expected to meet next week to discuss the case, a move that could precede a formal vote on whether…

Corporate social responsibility (CSR), once a differentiator for brands, is now the norm. Today’s consumers expect those they do business with, including retailers, will have positive impacts on the world. In fact, Gen Z consumers are three times as likely to say that the “purpose of business is to serve communities and society” rather than…

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has set the marketing world aflame. Tools like DALL·E and Adobe Firefly have demonstrated the potential of AI to produce engaging creative from limited resources. Looking beyond that, what can it offer in terms of media efficiency for brand and retail marketers? The ability of GenAI tools to remix and iterate…

Using event-driven architecture (EDA), retailers must link essential data at speed and scale throughout their ecosystems near and far to come to grips with now essential environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting in three key areas. 1. Dead Heading — Optimizing Transportation/Emissions on Every Journey When it comes to transportation within the retail sector, any…

In the retail and e-commerce landscape, the surge of synthetic shoppers poses a challenge for retailers. In fact, 50 percent of businesses have reported growth in synthetic identity fraud (SIF), according to AuthenticID’s 2024 State of Identity Fraud Report. SIF — when individuals use stolen personal information, such as Social Security numbers, to create fake…

Multiple news sources report that Peloton, the fitness giant known for luxury in-home stationary bikes and related exercise classes, has quietly removed its unlimited free membership option on its app that was originally intended to capture new customers who may have been intrigued by the brand but weren't willing to spend thousands on its equipment.…

For the seventh consecutive year, NAPCO Research and Blackhawk Network have partnered to produce an industry-leading report on U.S. merchants’ gift card programs. The 2024 assessment included a review of retailers’ e-commerce gift card offerings (desktop, mobile web, mobile app, device agnostic), including the purchaser and recipient experience for both digital and physical cards of…

Shopping centers have proved their resilience over the past couple of years, staging an impressive comeback following the back-to-back challenges of COVID restrictions and inflation. But although foot traffic is bouncing back, shopping habits are changing — and leading malls are trying new tactics to draw consumers through their doors. Analyzing location intelligence metrics for…

In an era when online shopping dominates the retail landscape, Beyoncé's new hit single, LEVII'S JEANS, is proving that the right cultural moment, fueled by star power, can still drive fans to brick-and-mortar stores in droves. According to data from geospatial insights company pass_by, Levi's stores across the U.S. witnessed a remarkable 19.87 percent surge…

Retailers’ ability to identify and understand their customers plays a key role in their success. However, the onset of third-party cookie deprecation from Google, which officially began in January 2024, directly impacts how retailers can connect with their customers. Retailers must pivot to new targeting methods to continue reaching the right audiences, keep customers brand-loyal,…