Today on Total Retail

Beauty brand e.l.f. has expanded its partnership with virtual world and gaming platform Roblox to include real-world commerce, reports PYMNTS. In the new virtual kiosk within the e.l.f. Up! experience on Roblox, which is powered by Walmart, U.S. visitors can buy a Roblox-exclusive limited-edition physical product — a hoodie — as well as a selection…

As we approach the holiday season, retailers and logistics service providers (LSPs) like freight forwarders and warehouses are placing their respective orders to secure the availability of merchandise before shoppers add to their carts. This year, the holiday consumer landscape is slightly different. With U.S. businesses gearing up to import more goods now compared to…

A quick confession: I love the mall. I love the more tangible entertainment and leisure aspects of it. Walking around aimlessly is calming and creates a built-in way to take time for myself while shopping. I can’t always say the same about shopping online these days which, in my experience, puts me in a more…

Third-party commerce (3P) is growing. U.S. retail e-commerce sales will grow to $588 billion by 2027, with online marketplaces accounting for nearly 40 percent of those gains, according to eMarketer. 3P commerce allows brands to reach consumers directly through retailer marketplaces. However, it can be difficult for brands to effectively manage their presence across multiple…

The ability to offer personalized shopping experiences has long been a cornerstone of digital marketing success. Brands often target specific segments within their ideal market demographics when executing digital ad buying and customer relationship activities like email and SMS marketing. So why don't brands also create segmented versions of their digital storefront(s)? The practical challenges…

Tractor Supply Co. communicated via a press release last week that it is eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion roles; withdrawing carbon emission goals; and walking back support for the LGBTQ+ community as part of sweeping changes to environmental, social and governance initiatives. More specifically, the retailer of home improvement equipment, livestock and agricultural supplies for…

In episode 459 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Brett Herskowitz, senior manager of loyalty at The Vitamin Shoppe, the global, omnichannel specialty retailer and wellness lifestyle company. Listen in as Herskowitz provides an overview of The Vitamin Shoppe's revamped loyalty program, Healthy Awards (1:20), the factors that influenced the new program setup…

Just ahead of Amazon Prime day on July 16-17, Walmart kicked off a competitive, paid-membership war with its Walmart+ Week. So, what's in it for U.S. merchants? As the retail giants prepare for a busy sales period, merchants must strategically position themselves to capitalize on events like Amazon Prime Day. Over two-thirds of U.S. small…

A seamless and streamlined customer experience (CX) is everything in retail. Modern consumers want to find, peruse, and buy products easily and conveniently, in-store or online. However, maintaining an enjoyable CX for shoppers can become unfeasible during network outages. Prolonged incidences can jeopardize more than CX; they can impede retailers’ ability to process payments, track…

For e-commerce organizations, protecting payment card data is a top priority. So is maintaining compliance with the PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). With the arrival of PCI DSS 4.0, it’s critical to review your audit readiness, including a thorough assessment of your cardholder data environment (CDE). Segmenting your infrastructure to reduce your auditable footprint…