April 26, 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 Evolution of Digital Gift Cards: Top Performers and Key Trends in 2025

by Joe Keenan

As digital commerce continues to evolve, gift cards have transformed into a strategic engagement tool for merchants. The 2025 edition of the Best Digital Gift Card Programs report, produced by Blackhawk Network and NAPCO Research, offers a deep dive into how 100 U.S. brands are optimizing their digital gift card programs — and which ones…

 
 
 

How Albertsons is Measuring the Value of its Media Collective

While attending Shoptalk 2025 in Las Vegas last month, Total Retail’s Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan had the opportunity to interview Liz Roche, vice president of media and measurement at Albertsons Media Collective, the retail media arm for Albertsons Companies. In the wide-ranging conversation, Roche discusses the mission of Albertsons Media Collective, her role and career background,…

 
 

How Retailers Can Navigate Rising Tariffs and Supply Chain Disruptions

by Ben Hussey

The economic climate retailers face today is next level. Rising tariffs, volatile supply chains, and shifting consumer expectations are making it hard to navigate. The rapid increase in costs across retail categories — e.g., cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, packaging, and sporting goods — is putting pressure on already slim margins, forcing businesses to reevaluate inventory planning and…

 
 
 
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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.

 
 
 

Conversion Blind Spots: Missed Moves That Could Be Costing You Sales

With average e-commerce conversion rates hovering between 2% and 4%, there’s a massive opportunity hiding in plain sight. This live, interactive session dives into the common blind spots that cause shoppers to bounce, carts to get abandoned, and revenue to slip through the cracks.

 

From Static to Seamless: The New Era of AI-Powered Hyperpersonalized E-Commerce

by Camille Manso

E-commerce is entering a new era; one where personalization isn’t just a marketing tactic but the foundation of the entire customer journey. Consumers increasingly expect digital experiences that are tailored to their unique needs and preferences. In fact, a recent McKinsey report found that 71 percent of consumers now expect companies to deliver personalized interactions,…

 

Marketing Pendulums: Why the Only Trend to Chase is Staying True to Your Brand

by Cali Maxwell DaRe

If there’s one thing marketers love, it’s a shiny new object. Today, it’s longer TikTok videos outperforming their bite-sized predecessors. Tomorrow, LinkedIn posts humming along in deafening noise. However, trends have a funny way of swinging like a pendulum — what’s “in” today becomes passé tomorrow. And in this dizzying back-and-forth, the real question is:…