Today on Total Retail

Amazon Prime Day, which has become an industry-wide moment as consumers embrace deals across retailers, will drive $14 billion online — a 10.5 percent increase year-over-year — for U.S. retailers, according to data recently published by Adobe Analytics. The event,  taking place July 16-17, will also bring steeper discounts, a rise in back-to-school shopping, and…

Every retailer understands that they need to refresh their loyalty program regularly to keep customers interested and drive repeat purchases. However, differentiating loyalty programs and winning dedicated customers requires more than a points system, which every retailer has. It takes fostering emotional connections with shoppers through memorable experiences and unique offers. Three ways for retailers…

The European Union is moving forward with one of the world’s most significant supply chain laws. After years of heated debate, the European Parliament voted this April to adopt its long-anticipated Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), which will require companies to implement policies to mitigate environmental and human rights abuses in their supply chains.…

In episode 460, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Kristen Elmer, senior director of e-commerce and lifecycle marketing at Bark, the world’s most dog-centric company offering the best products, services and content for dogs and dog parents, including its BarkBox monthly subscription. Listen in as Elmer provides an overview of the Bark business (0:50), her role (3:10),…

The ways in which shoppers engage with brands today is endlessly nuanced and dynamic. Research by Upland BlueVenn reveals that the average consumer today engages with brands through 20 different online and offline channels, including in-store visits, mobile browsers, social media, radio, and television. But while it’s well documented that consumers are more empowered than…

Starbucks will pilot a reusable cup program in Petaluma, CA starting in August, the company announced Tuesday in a press release. Partnering with NextGen Consortium, a global consortium that aims to address the world's single-use food packaging waste by advancing the design, commercialization and recovery of packaging alternative, Starbucks will swap single-use cups for reusable…

According to Statista, 73 percent of retailers are already using artificial intelligence, and a further 15 percent are planning to implement the technology over the next 12 months. AI is proving to be a valuable tool within the retail sector, from delivering personalized product recommendations for customers to enhancing inventory-based decision-making and predicting demand, among…

As consumer shopping habits expand beyond weekend trips to the brick-and-mortar store to now include online browsing, detailed product content has continued to grow in importance. It’s often the first impression retailers make and how consumers experience it can mean the difference between a quick bounce from your website and a longer shopping session that…

As we progress into the second half of 2024, uncertainty still looms. For consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies, unpredictable factors like ongoing geopolitical instability and a volatile economy make forecasting trends difficult. We’re likely to see the uncertainty continue, making it hard to achieve the level of visibility that aids companies in their planning. Fundamental…

As the holiday season approaches, brands shipping direct-to-consumer (DTC) or to retailers face the significant challenge of ensuring timely product delivery. The end goal, no matter your e-commerce omnichannel strategy, is to get products in customers' hands by the holiday gift-giving season. Proper forecasting and strategic planning are essential to meet customer expectations and capitalize…