Today on Total Retail

'Tis the season to start shopping. For retailers, this means delivering stellar customer service at every step of the customer journey. Salesforce data shows that 94 percent of consumers say good service makes them more likely to buy again while 80 percent will abandon a brand after three bad experiences. But rather than wait for the “three strikes…

Temu, the popular low-cost online marketplace, is suing fast-fashion brand Shein over using “mafia-style” methods to lower competition, according to a lawsuit filed Dec. 13 in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia. The suit was filed by WhaleCo, Temu's U.S.-based parent company, alleging that Shein has intimidated Temu employees and suppliers and…

In episode 432 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Matt Kaness, CEO of GoodwillFinds, an online, curated selection of hundreds of thousands of unique items, showcasing a wide variety of secondhand clothing, books, home decor and more. Listen in as Kaness provides an overview of GoodwillFinds (0:55), discusses his professional background and what…

The holiday season, synonymous with joyous celebrations and bustling retail activity, also brings a notable surge in product returns. But while many retailers perceive returns as a challenge, our data reveals a surprising and valuable insight — returns are an untapped opportunity for amplified customer retention. Providing customers with a straightforward and hassle-free return policy…

This holiday season, U.S. online sales are projected to grow nearly 5 percent over last year’s numbers, which is good news for retailers hoping to close out the year with a strong Q4. Unfortunately, cybercriminals are targeting retailers with growing regularity. During the holiday season, any website downtime or service outage can result in significant…

By all accounts, this year’s Black Friday was one of the most successful in a long time. Retail sales topped the charts at $9.8 billion, up 7.5 percent from last year. However, retailers shouldn’t pop the celebratory champagne just yet. Even with strong Black Friday and Cyber Monday showings, businesses must pull out all the…

Following a record-breaking “Cyber Five,” retailers are crossing their fingers for robust sales to continue throughout the holiday season. But as online spending rises, so does online shopper frustration — and this has the potential to harm both immediate and long-term sales. Retail data from FullStory shows that online shoppers experienced a 16.3 percent year-over-year…

U.S. retail sales unexpectedly rose in November as the holiday shopping season got off to a brisk start amid deep discounting, likely keeping the economy on a moderate growth path this quarter and further alleviating fears of a recession, reports Reuters. The Census Bureau said overall retail sales in November were up 0.3 percent from October…

As peak seasonal shopping continues, global consumers are seeking to capitalize on deals. This year's holiday shopping season is expected to see an increase in digital transactions compared to previous years, partially due to rising cost of living. Therefore, shoppers are hoping to take advantage of the best deals to help their dollar go further.…

The holiday season is the Super Bowl for retailers, with November and December accounting for 19 percent of total retail sales — even higher for some retailers — in the last five years. Since online purchasing comprises nearly 40 percent of holiday shopping, retailers can't afford to lose sales and frustrate consumers through website outages. Unfortunately,…