May 17, 2025
 

 WEEKEND EDITION

Welcome to this issue of the Total Retail Report: Weekend Edition, a recap of what you may have missed this past week on myTotalRetail.com. Have a great weekend!

The $1B Identity Crisis: Why 1 in 4 Customer Profiles Are Wrong — and How to Fix Them for Good

by Caleb Benningfield

What if one in four of your customers were misidentified, costing your business millions without you even realizing it? It’s not a hypothetical. Today, companies are facing a data identity crisis that’s costing them millions in wasted spend, poor targeting, and missed opportunities. The root of the problem? Customer identities are fragmented across disconnected systems…

 

How to Design E-Commerce Experiences That Actually Convert

by Greg Tull

In today’s e-commerce landscape, delivering a seamless, intuitive and high-performing digital journey is the difference between growth and stagnation. A clunky checkout, a slow mobile load time, or a confusing product filter can dramatically impact conversion rates. The path to purchase must be just as compelling, convenient and tailored as the product itself. Following e-commerce…

 
 

Digital Displays Influence Purchase Decisions: Data Proves ROI

by Jaime Bettencourt

Walk through any major retail store today and you’ll notice that digital screens are becoming as common as shelves. It’s no coincidence that the U.S. retail digital signage market surpassed $2.2 billion in 2024, with brands from Walmart to Nike doubling down on these dynamic displays. But are shoppers actually paying attention? Or are retailers…

 
 
 
Sponsored by Blackhawk Network

2025 Best Digital Gift Card Programs

For the eighth consecutive year, NAPCO Research and Blackhawk Network (BHN) have partnered to produce a market-leading report on the gift card industry. This comprehensive benchmark study evaluates the branded digital gift card programs of 100 U.S. merchants, assessing both purchaser and recipient experiences across 126 unique criteria. The report provides actionable insights to enhance your own gift card program, offers benchmark data to compare your performance against competitors and the broader industry, and highlights innovative strategies to optimize program effectiveness.

 
 
 
Sponsored by Wpromote

The New 5-Pillar Framework for Retail Growth

Winning retail brands don’t stand still—they evolve and advance. You must embrace a cross-channel strategy that adapts to platform evolution and changing shopping behavior. This playbook will walk you through the five essential pillars of omnichannel retail success that will help you boost profitability and succeed in an ever-changing market.

 

Why Discount Stores and Warehouse Clubs Have an Advantage in the Battle for Customer Attention

by Michael Della Penna

A single retailer makes up less than 0.5 percent of a shopper’s total retail visits, according to recent data. Adding to that challenge, consumers spend less than 5 percent of their free time shopping each month. These realities of fragmented shopping, combined with the impact of rising costs on essentials and discretionary goods, have made…

 

Breaking Free: How Retailers Are Reclaiming Control Over Their Advertising Businesses

by Pat Copeland

Retail has dramatically transformed in recent years as evolving consumer preferences and the COVID-19 pandemic turbocharged e-commerce growth. While online sales surged, profitability didn’t keep pace — leaving retailers scrambling for alternative revenue streams. In the rush to recover lost profits, many retailers handed over their retail media operations to third-party gatekeepers. This quick fix,…