Today on Total Retail

As we step into 2024, the retail landscape is undergoing a transformative shift, with virtual retail stores emerging as the next big online trend. This shift isn't just a fleeting fad but a response to changing consumer behaviors and technological advancements. As 3D for the web becomes more mainstream, traditional e-commerce websites are becoming flat…

Online spending rose 4.9 percent year-over-year, setting a record for e-commerce during the holiday season, as shoppers pounced on discounts and leaned on buy now, pay later to cover more of their purchases, according to Adobe Analytics. Sales totaled $222.1 billion on retailers’ websites and apps from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, according to Adobe. Adobe’s…

The retail industry, continuously adapting to new technologies and evolving consumer habits, is, once again, at the crossroads of transformation. New technologies, especially the integration of artificial intelligence, are central to this moment, compelling retailers to adjust to changing shopping behaviors and to enhance their customer experiences to create value for customers, which drives loyalty. …

Dara Meath is chief technology officer of Build-A-Bear Workshop, a global brand focused on its mission to "add a little more heart to life" by appealing to a wide array of consumer groups who enjoy the personal expression in making their own "furry friends" to celebrate and commemorate life moments. Meath spoke at Total Retail…

As consumers and government regulations call on companies to adopt increasingly sustainable practices, fashion brands need to rethink their approach to reducing their environmental impact. One of their key challenges is to achieve full visibility into all stages in the life cycle, from fiber-origin to retail. Without perfect traceability of the materials used, it's extremely…

A whopping 69 percent of retailers treat returns as a cost of doing business, meaning they simply accept that they will incur $165 million in merchandise returns for every $1 billion in sales. This problem is further exacerbated during the holiday season when 17.9 percent of merchandise sold is returned. But what if one shift could…

During the five-day holiday weekend spanning from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday last year, 200.4 million consumers shopped, setting a new record both in the number of people shopping and the amount spent — online sales rose 7.8 percent from 2022 to $38 billion. With 2024 upon us, retailers find themselves on the brink of a…

A woman in Florida is suing the candy giant Hershey, alleging that the Pennsylvania-based company misled consumers with the packaging on a Halloween-themed Reese's candy. The lawsuit, filed by Cynthia Kelly on Dec. 28, claims that Hershey engaged in "false and deceptive advertising" when it advertised an image of a chocolate peanut butter pumpkin with…

In a truly dynamic market, retailers that leverage disruptive technologies like generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) to embed themselves in their customers’ lives better are more likely to succeed than their peers relying on traditional selling methods. Numerous retailers have displayed remarkable resilience over the past year, cultivating empathy and delivering personalization despite an uncertain…

Being a forward-thinking retailer requires actively identifying shifts in consumer behavior. Perhaps one of the most notable changes in recent years has been the rise in cashless consumers. According to a Pew Research Center survey, roughly four in 10 Americans (41 percent) say none of their purchases in a typical week are paid for using cash, up…