Today on Total Retail

Running background checks has never been straightforward in the retail industry, and 2024 will be no exception. Employers nationwide will continue to face an ever-changing landscape of laws and regulations that will require both vigilance and foresight to navigate with confidence. Proceeding without attentiveness and care is likely to result in complications for even the…

In years past, the word “on-demand” has been used to describe videos or streaming services. However, I believe that “on-demand” can now be used to describe the expectations of today’s consumer. Customers now want a shopping experience that's always on, responds in real time, and gives the most up-to-date information. This has created a scenario…

New Balance has become the latest company to launch its own resale website, following the steps of more than 160 brands that have so far adopted resale. The sportswear and lifestyle brand will enable consumers to shop and sell pre-owned New Balance shoes via a dedicated website in the U.S, which is powered by Archive Resale,…

In episode 438 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Jarett Levan, president and CEO of BBX Capital, a diversified holding company and parent of IT'SUGAR, the largest specialty candy retailer in the U.S. Listen in as Levan provides an overview of IT'SUGAR (1:00), discusses its brick-and-mortar locations (2:30), and how it's balancing its e-commerce…

After years of free and easy return policies, retailers are working to reduce rampant return rates. Nearly half now charge fees to offset rising costs. Popular brands like H&M, Zara, and DSW, among others, are opting to add fees to combat environmental, freight, labor and packaging costs associated with product returns. But are these punitive…

One might think that after multiple years of inflation and a scarcity mindset that consumers would have adjusted their expectations of retailers to allow for more leniency and to ensure they’re just able to get the products they want. CI&T’s 2024 Connected Retail Report told a very different story. In our fourth year collecting consumer…

Do you know how many emails are sent every day around the world? I ask people that all the time and I get some surprising answers. I’ve heard 10 million, 100 million and up to a billion. The answer is that in 2024, people around the world will send 350 billion emails every day. You…

In the relentless world of e-commerce, speed stands as the linchpin to success. Modern times are defined by the “need-it-now” attitude, shorter attention spans, and a surge in TikTok and Instagram shopping experiences. As consumers demand faster interactions, the urgency for swift e-commerce transactions has never been clearer. A core challenge for e-commerce merchants is…

Walmart plans to build or convert more than 150 large-format stores over the next five years, it announced on Wednesday. Some of the locations will be expanded from a smaller location into a Supercenter with a full range of groceries and merchandise, but the majority will be new stores, Josh Havens, a company spokesman, said.…

While at NRF 2024: Retail's Big Show in New York City last month, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan spoke with Evan Hovorka, vice president of product and innovation at Albertsons Media Collective, the next-generation retail media arm for Albertsons Companies, Inc. Hovorka provides an overview of the retail media network and his role, the business' approach to…