Customer Data

In the same way that retailers wouldn't only stock size 8.5 sneakers — even though that's the average adult American woman's shoe size — they can't take a one-size-fits-all approach to key sales events either. Similarly, they can't try to fit their entire audience into one pigeonhole, nor can they afford to rely on out-of-date shopper…

In episode 492 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Debbie Woloshin, chief marketing officer at Stitch Fix, the leading online personal styling service. The interview was recorded at at Shoptalk Fall in Chicago last month. Listen in as Woloshin discusses innovating the product discovery process (1:40) as well as Stitch Fix's "Retail Therapy"…

This video features a keynote presentation by Kelly Pedersen, partner, global retail leader at PwC, titled "The Data-Driven Consumer: How Tech Behaviors Are Reshaping Retail" from Total Retail Tech in Atlanta last month. As technology rapidly evolves, so do consumer behaviors — and the implications for retail are profound. In this data-centric session, Pedersen shared…

Retailers are moving fast to incorporate generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) into every corner of their operations. However, there's one major obstacle standing in the way: their data. While most data teams are skilled at managing traditional retail data (e.g., transactional, inventory, etc.), many of the most promising Gen AI use cases rely on unstructured…

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming cybersecurity, and retail is feeling the impact. As retailers adopt AI to personalize customer experiences, optimize supply chains, and streamline operations, the cybersecurity stakes have never been higher. For chief information security officers (CISOs), AI is more than a defensive tool — it’s a strategic asset that reshapes how organizations…

Artificial intelligence has become the centerpiece of 2026 retail planning, promising lower costs, faster decisions, and more personalized experiences. Consumers are on board, showing growing interest in tools like conversational AI and purchase agents. However, even as 90 percent of retailers say they’re using AI, a recent Amperity survey reveals that only 11 percent are…

French fashion giant Chanel is the latest company to suffer a data breach in an ongoing wave of Salesforce data theft attacks. Chanel says the breach was first detected on July 25 after threat actors gained access to a Chanel database hosted at a third-party service provider, as first reported by WWD. The breach only…

Retailers today face a perfect storm: economic uncertainty, evolving tariffs, and fast-shifting customer expectations. In response, artificial intelligence investment is accelerating. However, despite the momentum, research shows only 28 percent of executives feel they're using AI effectively, while in retail, one-third of companies have yet to start meaningful AI adoption. This isn't just a technology…

Picture two shoppers: one is browsing a massive online marketplace like Amazon.com or Walmart, the other is on a smaller retailer’s website looking for the exact same thing, “boots.” The first shopper sees a tailored list of options relevant to their location, price range, past activity, even the weather in their ZIP code. The second?…

Retailers today face an unprecedented pace of change. Shifting customer expectations, supply chain instability, and tariff uncertainty are challenging even the most sophisticated operators to make faster, smarter decisions. But while many have invested in data tools, few have tackled the deeper issue: how data is accessed and used across the business. Through conversations with…