Today on Total Retail

The time leading up to the holidays is stressful for retailers. With the season accounting for about 27 percent of total retail sales — and more than a third in some categories — providing an experience that keeps customers online, in stores and spending can make or break a retailer’s profitability for the entire year.…

Instacart‘s partnership with OpenAI was a significant first step in showing how generative artificial intelligence will fundamentally change the digital shelf and retail media. Amazon.com also has several generative AI-powered initiatives, including AI-generated review highlights and Project Nile, a GenAI search concierge reportedly set to launch in January. If the feature fulfills its potential, it…

The digital age has fundamentally transformed the retail landscape. As we adapt to the new era dominated by e-commerce, where approximately 20 percent of all retail transactions are made online (and growing every year), it's crucial to also recognize and adapt to shifting consumer behaviors and preferences — especially during peak season. This high-stakes period…

According to the most recent Mastercard SpendingPulse report, which measures in-store and online retail sales across all forms of payment, U.S. retail sales on Black Friday (Nov. 24) were up more than 2.5 percent year-over-year (YoY) excluding automotive, not adjusted for inflation. Key trends included from the Black Friday shopping data include the following: E-commerce sales were strong: E-commerce…

In episode 429 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Jeremiah McElwee, chief merchandising officer of Thrive Market, a leading online marketplace specializing in a highly curated assortment of organic and non-GMO products. During the wide-ranging episode, McElwee provides an overview of Thrive Market and his role within the organization (0:55), including how merchandising…

Black Friday and Cyber Monday stand out as pivotal events in the e-commerce calendar. The onset of the holiday shopping spree seems to be ushering in earlier with each passing year, with this season anticipating a surge in consumer spending, building on the momentum witnessed in recent months. While these monumental shopping days present retailers…

In the commercial innovation workshops I lead around the globe, there are many strategies that clients and customers want to cover. However,  without fail, I always get asked what can be done to improve customer loyalty.  No matter the country or the language it’s being delivered in, the answer is always the same — invest…

Retailers are set for a big holiday shopping season. Consumers today are more discerning than ever, seeking convenience, personalization and customization. For retailers, this is both a challenge and an opportunity. Those that digitally transform to become more visible, personalized and connected will be well-positioned to thrive. Location data has always been integral to retail…

CouponFollow analyzed Google search volumes to find out which retailers in the U.S. are going to be the most popular this year. We used search tool Ahrefs to find the most recent data on monthly search volumes for America’s top retailers. Explore the table below for details. Furthermore, there have been nearly 1 billion emails already…

Consumers spent $5.6 billion on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 23), up 5.5 percent year-over-year, highlighting the continued shift to more spending online. In the holiday season so far, consumers have spent $76.7 billion online, up 6.8 percent YoY in the first 23 days of November. Black Friday is expected to bring in $9.6 billion, up 5.7 percent YoY. This according to Adobe Analytics data.…