Today on Total Retail

The retail sector has so much to offer Generation Z. In order to attract and retain talent from this digital-native cohort of employees, born after 1995, it's vital for retail employers to provide a benefits package that offers value way beyond remuneration. By doing so, retailers can benefit from highly skilled employees who in turn…

Retail sales showed a strong beginning for the year in January, nearly matching December’s busy holiday spending and rising significantly year-over-year, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, powered by Affinity Solutions, released today by the National Retail Federation (NRF). Total retail sales were up 2.34 percent unadjusted YoY in January, according to the Retail Monitor.…

In episode 439 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Alissa Ahlman, chief merchandising officer, home segment at Franchise Group, Inc., a world-class franchising platform for a diverse collection of market-leading and emerging brands, including American Freight, a retail furniture chain. Listen in as Ahlman provides an overview of both companies (0:45), how the…

Consumer spending, especially online and in particular via mobile devices, hit record highs during the 2023 holiday season. But are retailers ready to ride this momentum into 2024? One recent study found that 73 percent of customers are likely to switch to a competitor after just one poor experience. Especially during the new year, when…

Our rapidly digitalizing and globalizing world hasn't been kind to the retail industry these past few years, especially for brick-and-mortar stores. As a result, many retailers have begun to wrestle with questions concerning the nature of the retail experience and what it means to succeed in 2024. Despite this anxiety, brands can be sure of…

After several years of altered consumer behavior and often-conflicting news about the economy throughout 2023, retailers have sometimes found it challenging to understand what’s normal customer behavior now. Regardless of the trends and pre-holiday forecasts, assessing how your store actually performed is the key to preparing for a stronger holiday season performance in 2024 —…

Neiman Marcus Group on Wednesday announced it has abandoned plans to use Farfetch’s e-commerce software to revamp the luxury department store’s online storefront and app. The luxury department store chain will also not join Farfetch’s marketplace. Neiman Marcus Group first entered an agreement with Farfetch in 2022, when the luxury e-tailer invested $200 million in…

Many retail businesses are charting their courses for 2024, exploring inventive avenues to enhance their services and elevate the overall customer experience. Keeping up with the latest trends in the retail landscape will be crucial to their success. And to my mind, three particular trends are poised to shape the retail narrative in 2024: automation,…

Regardless of how clever today’s e-commerce storefronts are, their digital interfaces lack one particular quality: the ability to mimic human expression — and research indicates it’s more than just a makeover. E-commerce and the “digital storefront” have existed for a little more than two decades. In that time, online shopping has come a long way…

The 2024 State of Business Texting Report created by Text Request uncovers key insights and strategies for a wide range of industries using text messaging, including retail. The report covers benefits, challenges and opportunities associated with business texting. Let’s dive into the main takeaways for retail businesses. How Does Texting Benefit Retail Businesses? Retail businesses…