E-Commerce

A looming recession. Mass layoffs. The rise of generative artificial intelligence. There’s no doubt that 2023 presented the e-commerce industry with a myriad of obstacles. For many retailers, this provided an opportunity to experiment with new technologies and ways of selling. This year, we’ll see the outcomes of those experiments come to fruition as merchants…

If 2023 marked brands' initial steps into integrating generative artificial intelligence into their e-commerce strategies, 2024 is set to witness its explosive growth. There's palpable anticipation as conversational commerce gears up — and not just for major industry players, but gradually becoming accessible to brands of all sizes. Consider conversational commerce and dynamic personalization. These…

While e-commerce adoption accelerated in the last three years — with nearly three-quarters of Americans (73 percent) now shopping online multiple times a month — e-commerce has become much more competitive. One strategy brands should consider to differentiate is to offer a seamless, enjoyable and personalized shopping experience, enabled by generative artificial intelligence. E-commerce leaders…

Consumers are generally dissatisfied with their retail experiences, at least according to a global study from the IBM Institute for Business Value called "Revolutionize retail with AI everywhere: Customers won't wait." The report points out that only 9 percent of consumers said they were content with their in-store shopping experiences and 14 percent content with…

In episode 434 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Kathy Doyle Thomas, president of Half Price Books (HPB), a chain of new and used bookstores. Listen in as Doyle Thomas provides an overview of the HPB's business (0:50), discusses her career with the company (2:25), offers insight into how the resale book industry…

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…

As we begin 2024, the world of e-commerce will see continued evolution and disruption. Consumer behavior has fundamentally shifted over the past several years, with more shoppers flocking to digital storefronts and leveraging digital shopping technologies. With this backdrop in mind, here are four key predictions for what's in store for e-commerce in 2024. Consumers…

Total Retail recently published its Top 50 Tips of 2023 report. This annual feature includes tips on how to run a more efficient and profitable retail business, and covers multiple functions for doing so, including e-commerce. Below are five tips designed for retailers that will help them position their businesses for success to close the holiday…

Seattle-based retailer Zulily's website has been down for maintenance since Monday following the layoffs of 800 workers. When attempting to visit Zulily's website Wednesday, the link redirects to https://www.zulily.com/password and displays a message that says, "We are down for maintenance." Earlier this month, news emerged about Zulily layoffs in three states — Washington, Ohio and…

In episode 432 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Matt Kaness, CEO of GoodwillFinds, an online, curated selection of hundreds of thousands of unique items, showcasing a wide variety of secondhand clothing, books, home decor and more. Listen in as Kaness provides an overview of GoodwillFinds (0:55), discusses his professional background and what…