Today on Total Retail

For years, direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands have followed a familiar playbook: pour money into search and social, optimize for conversions, and scale what works. However, that formula is getting harder to sustain. Platform saturation, rising costs, and tighter privacy regulations are forcing brands to rethink their media strategies. Growth still requires performance, but now it also…

Leading retailers are interested in personalization efforts that drive the “right” customer behaviors. In marketing, the right messages, delivered at the right time to the right consumer and featuring easy-to-act-upon content result in more revenue at a better margin than non-personalized mass messaging. However, the aim of modern marketing efforts isn't about delivering personalization per…

Checkout is no longer just the final step in a transaction — it’s where customers decide if they’ll return. And increasingly, it’s where artificial intelligence (AI) is raising the bar. Whether you run a neighborhood boutique or a growing e-commerce brand, AI is transforming the checkout experience from a routine transaction into a powerful competitive…

Skechers has agreed to be taken private by 3G Capital for $9.42 billion in the footwear industry's biggest buyout to date, reports Reuters. The popular shoe brand is exiting public markets after 26 years as it grapples with the impact of steep U.S. tariffs. Investment firm 3G Capital has offered $63 per Skechers share in…

Retailers are feeling the pressure as trade tariffs shake up pricing strategies, inventory management, and supply chain stability. With shifting trade policies, rising costs and unpredictable economic conditions, it’s more important than ever to find better ways to adjust pricing without sacrificing revenue. Artificial intelligence-powered solutions are stepping in to help retailers face these challenges…

Just when retailers thought they knew what consumers wanted in their interactions with customer service, artificial intelligence (AI) has moved the goalposts. A survey by Vonage found that 75 percent of consumers are comfortable with AI-powered customer support in retail — among the highest acceptance rates across industries, second only to gaming (80 percent). This…

Recent changes in U.S. trade policy, including the imposition of new tariffs and the suspension of the de minimis exemption, have significant implications for supply chain and procurement professionals. Understanding these impacts is crucial for navigating the evolving landscape. End of De Minimis Exemption: What it Means for Costs and Compliance The suspension of the…

New U.S. tariffs have prompted brands and retailers to reassess their sourcing and supply chain strategies. While these measures haven’t triggered a broader economic downturn so far, they are contributing to increased volatility and shifts in how businesses across the retail sector source, assemble and sell. Consequently, brands and retailers now face rising supplier costs…

Rite Aid on Monday announced it's filing for bankruptcy for a second time, barely just seven months after the retailer exited Chapter 11 and emerged as a private company. The financially strapped drug store chain said it's looking for a buyer, and re-filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection will help facilitate that process. Rite Aid…

When the cost of living rises faster than paychecks, spending doesn’t stop — it shifts. As inflation and economic uncertainty continue in 2025, consumers are leaning harder on credit to bridge the gap between what they need, want, and can actually afford. In 2024, U.S. consumer debt grew by nearly half a trillion dollars. And…