To address the challenge of balancing inventory and gaining visibility into it, requirements for effective and efficient buy online, pickup in-store (BOPIS) and curbside pickup programs, retailers are increasingly turning to automated technology solutions. They’re automating order and delivery flows with their product suppliers through the use of EDI (i.e., the electronic interchange of business…
Joe Keenan
In this episode of Total Retail Tech Insights, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Carlos Dunlap-Beard, vice president of business development and loyalty strategy at Clarus Commerce, a premium loyalty program solutions provider. Dunlap-Beard discusses Clarus Commerce's business offerings, the years of experience in loyalty solutions he brings to his role, and what makes premium loyalty members…
Gift cards continue to remain immensely popular with consumers. In fact, demand for digital gift cards spiked during the pandemic, as consumers sought out convenient, easy and safe ways to share gifts with their friends and families, even if they weren't getting together in person. This trend isn't expected to end with the pandemic, as…
Retail sales remained at elevated levels in May despite month-to-month fluctuations that masked near-record performance, the National Retail Federation (NRF) said today. The Commerce Department reported on Tuesday that May retail sales declined 1.3 percent month-over-month. However, the industry's largest trade association says the May sales data doesn't tell the whole story. “While May retail sales…
In episode 302 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Gary Lenett, co-founder and CEO of DUER, a Canadian apparel brand combining everyday wear and performance wear for men and women. Listen in as Lenett discusses DUER's business and products, his professional background in fashion, and the inspiration behind launching the brand. He details…
Alex and Ani, the jewelry company that grew into a billion-dollar business, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Delaware on Wednesday. The company, founded by Carolyn Rafaelian, listed between $100 million and $500 million each in assets and liabilities, according to the filing. Its largest unsecured debts are with property management companies. It also owes the…
The use of automation technology to facilitate the seamless flow of information between product suppliers and retailers is critical to meeting consumers’ omnichannel fulfillment demands. Automation is necessary for retailers to not only satisfy their customers’ lofty expectations for buy online, pick up in-store (BOPIS) and curbside pickup, but also to keep pace with their…
In this episode of Total Retail Tech Insights, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Tom Caporaso, CEO of Clarus Commerce, a premium loyalty program solutions provider. Caporaso discusses Clarus Commerce's loyalty solutions for retailers, his 25-plus year career in customer loyalty and subscription programs, and what premium loyalty programs entail. He shares why premium loyalty programs are…
In episode 301 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Melanie Travis, founder and CEO of Andie, a global e-commerce women's swim and intimates retailer. Listen in as Travis discusses the brand's growth over the past four years, her career background in the consumer startup space, and her inspiration to launch Andie. She shares…
The growth of omnichannel fulfillment programs such as buy online, pick up in-store (BOPIS) and curbside pickup of online orders has been trending for several years now. That trend reached a tipping point in the last 12-plus months, as the COVID-19 pandemic led consumers to seek out safer, contactless shopping experiences. Equally embraced by consumers…
Rent the Runway said Wednesday it is expanding into resale, a major evolution for the fashion rental platform. Customers will soon be able to buy used designer clothes from the business in addition to renting them. No membership will be required, as Rent the Runway looks to broaden its reach and give shoppers more feasible…
The gift card market in the U.S. is projected to record a CAGR of 9.2 percent during 2020-2024, growing to $221,147 million by 2024, according to the Q2 2020 Global Gift Card Survey. This comes on the heels of a report from Blackhawk Network that revealed a more than 80 percent increase in digital gift…
In episode 300 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Andris Lagsdin, founder of The Baking Steel, a pizza stone retailer with a range of products made from ultra-conductive steel. Listen in as Lagsdin discusses why he launched the brand, his professional background, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced The Baking Steel's business.…
Amazon.com's Prime Day sale will be held June 21 and June 22, according to records reviewed by Bloomberg News and a person familiar with the matter, as the company tries to get its big summer sale back on schedule after postponing it last year due to the pandemic. Amazon notified employees about the dates and…
In episode 299 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Michael Stein, head of e-commerce at Coleman Furniture, an online furniture retailer that is part of Renegade Furniture Group. Listen in as Stein discusses how Coleman Furniture is utilizing technology to differentiate itself from the competition, examples of how the company is using artificial…
