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In an era when artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming e-commerce, retailers are facing new challenges, including malicious price-scraping bots and rising privacy concerns. AI has created a number of opportunities for the e-commerce landscape, but it isn’t without risks. Consumers are increasingly cautious when considering how their data is used and shared online. Trust is…

Although analysts expect inflation to influence spending behaviors this year, shoppers still plan to spend an average of $1,638 on gifts, travel and entertainment, which is a 7 percent increase from 2023 and a 15 percent jump from 2022. Despite varying predictions for this holiday season, holiday hiring in the retail sector is expected to…

The holiday season is here, and retailer leaders have much on their to-do lists, from hiring extra staff to managing suppliers. Preparing and managing for this shopping surge is complex and time consuming. Modern hybrid unified communications (UC) technology is uniquely positioned to help address the challenges retail managers and their employees face, especially during…

For marketers, no time is more crucial than the holiday season to connect with consumers through personalized offers and messages. This year, personalization is more powerful than ever, with Optimove Insights data showing a 227 percent increase in email engagement due to tailored content. A remarkable 36 percent of consumers say they open marketing emails…

Hot Topic has reportedly suffered a data breach exposing tens of millions of customer records. The data breach happened in October and exposed 57 million unique email addresses, but also included physical addresses, phone numbers, purchases, genders, dates of birth, and partial credit data containing card type, expiry and last four digits, according to data…

As the holiday shopping season approaches, consumer optimism is at its highest in years. Research indicates that 66 percent of shoppers plan to either maintain or increase their holiday spending compared to last year. With inflation easing and purchasing power strengthening, this year’s holiday season is projected to drive a 9.5 percent increase in online…

Retailers face immense opportunities and significant challenges heading into the holiday season. Put simply, the sales volume retailers see is typically far greater than the rest of the year, so preparations must be tight. A successful holiday sales season requires thoughtful planning and strategic use of technology to optimize operations, manage inventory, and protect against…

This video features a panel discussing how retailers are tackling loss prevention and fraud through technology from Total Retail Tech 2024 in Charlotte, NC. Speakers include Sree Sreedhararaj, Chief Technology Officer, IPSY; Karen Beebe, Chief Technology Officer, Bealls, Inc.; Adam Gunnett, Director, IT and Business Intelligence, Busy Beaver Building Centers; and moderator Sucharita Kodali, Vice…

As the landscape of online shopping evolves, so do consumer expectations around how their orders are fulfilled. Recent research by HubBox explores key trends, challenges and motivations shaping the future of e-commerce, where delivery options extend beyond traditional home delivery to meet diverse needs. The Dominance of Home Delivery Seventy-six percent of American shoppers receive…

The holiday season is around the corner once again, and it's just as important as ever for retailers and customers to remain vigilant against holiday cyberattacks. The hustle and bustle of the period — from Black Friday to Christmas — is a great time for cybercriminals to target businesses as purchases and foot traffic increase.…

As the holiday season approaches, retailers are gearing up for what is traditionally one of the busiest times of the year. One trend that's steadily gaining momentum — and for good reason — is the move away from plastic gift cards and to digital. The gift card industry is massive. In 2021, an estimated $171…

According to Statista, Halloween consumer spending this year in the U.S. is estimated to reach $3.5 billion, a significant jump from previous years. With spending steadily increasing, brands must take action to provide efficient service and high-quality customer experiences even during peak seasonal times. Delivering high-quality customer experiences during the build-up to Halloween is critical for…

Over the last 12 months, businesses have witnessed a significant jump in refund fraud. This growing menace operates on a more subtle and insidious level, unlike conventional fraud types, which require stolen credit card details or sophisticated hacking tools. Fraudsters exploit the trust-based nature of customer service policies, manipulating return and refund processes without needing…

As we think back on the Olympic Games, it’s easy to marvel at the dedication and preparation that athletes pour into their training. That same spirit is found in retail, as the industry gears up for its own kind of Olympics: the holiday season followed by the inevitable surge in product returns. Returns present a…

For anyone who has ever worked in the service industry, “the customer is always right” is a motto so essential it borders on creed. But has the time come for us to admit that we’ve helped blur the lines between customer empowerment and customer entitlement? A single glance at return rates and impact reveals we've…

Uber announced it has entered a partnership with Spirit Halloween offering costume delivery now through Halloween on its app. According to Uber, Spirit Halloween's catalog will be available on Uber's app at the same price as in stores. The ride-hailing app also said that Uber One members can get free delivery and a 5 percent…

The impressive recent growth trajectory we've seen in the e-commerce market continues to move up and to the right. According to Statista, the global e-commerce market is projected to maintain an annual growth rate of 9.49 percent in the coming years, with 3.6 billion purchases expected to account for $6.48 trillion come 2029. Unfortunately, this…

Retailers have always sought new ways to keep prospective buyers in stores longer to maximize sales. Few would suggest this changing despite the meteoric rise of online and app-driven retail technology in the last decade. Why? Brick-and-mortar stores maintain the highest sales conversion rate, averaging 31.5 percent — easily beating out e-commerce, which averages 3…

“Hot enough for you?” That was the common refrain during the summer of 2024. The excessive heat gave retail facilities managers and sustainability directors another stark reminder of the challenges they face to improve energy efficiency and meet sustainability requirements. It's all the more reason a robust energy management strategy is critical. Fortunately, there’s some…

Surveillance systems may help catch thieves in the act but they aren’t guaranteed to stop them, and criminals have grown bolder as a result. According to the National Retail Federation’s 2023 survey, losses from retail theft surged 19 percent to $112.1 billion in 2022, up from $93.9 billion the prior year. Jewelry theft alone recently…