Today on Total Retail

In 2021, I told Total Retail readers that retailers were two years away from pivotal innovations across several key technology trends. I argued that we would begin to feel the convergence of these technologies happen in 2023, and that retailers would need to get moving — then — to be in a position to succeed,…

As we begin 2024, the retail sector is witnessing a dynamic shift towards sustainability. Highlights of the millennial and Gen Z consumer trends almost always center around sustainability, with 72 percent and 77 percent of them, respectively, likely to pay more for environmentally-friendly products, according to the PDI Business of Sustainability Index. The behaviors of…

In a keynote session during the final day of the NRF Big Show in New York City last week, Sumit Singh, CEO of pet brand Chewy, outlined the company's vision for the future, including the growing importance of pet healthcare to the business. Singh was interviewed by Phil Wahba, senior writer at Fortune. Here are…

While at NRF 2024: Retail's Big Show in New York City last week, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviewed Barbara Hagen, vice president of sales and marketing at ThriftBooks, an independent online used book seller, to discuss the company's use of artificial intelligence. Hagen provides a brief overview of the company and discusses its growth over its…

E-commerce brands have been through a tumultuous few years. The pandemic in 2020 brought a surge in online shopping which has never subsided. As consumers have increased their online purchases, their expectations for low cost, simple, fast and reliable delivery have also grown. Retailers are recognizing that the delivery experience can have a huge impact…

In the ever-evolving landscape of retail, businesses are constantly seeking innovative ways to keep pace with changing consumer preferences, market dynamics, and technology advancements. The MACH architecture principles — microservices, API-first, cloud-native, and headless — have emerged as a powerful framework for retailers looking to transform their store systems, break free from legacy constraints, and…

As we begin 2024, the e-commerce landscape is on the brink of a significant transformation. Technological advancements like artificial intelligence/generative AI coupled with evolving consumer behaviors and a global shift towards sustainability are converging to redefine the way we shop online — from the way we search for products and make payments, to the authenticity…

Anyone in retail knows that brands sometimes have to reinvent themselves in order to remain relevant and — for lack of a better word — "cool" to consumers. At the National Retail Federation's Big Show last week, executives from two well-known brands, Claire's and Crocs, shared how their companies overcame setbacks and charted a new…

With all the buzz surrounding artificial intelligence in the retail industry, it’s no surprise that its embrace is one of the top trends as the industry begins 2024. The rapid growth of AI, machine learning and predictive technologies is opening up new worlds of opportunities. However, AI isn’t the only key trend in retail. Here…

As retailers gear up for 2024, they find themselves in an ever-changing market ... yet again. They understand shoppers and offer them value in a world where customer privacy is coveted, third-party cookies aren’t an option, and anonymous shoppers reign, representing a bulk of transactions. The technologies powering e-commerce platforms continue to evolve, but now…