E-Commerce

The 2025 edition of the annual Best Digital Gift Card Programs report, produced by Blackhawk Network and NAPCO Research, offers a deep dive into how 100 U.S. merchants are optimizing their digital gift card programs. The report is based on the evaluation of 100 U.S. brands' digital gift card programs across 175 unique criteria. In addition…

In today’s e-commerce landscape, delivering a seamless, intuitive and high-performing digital journey is the difference between growth and stagnation. A clunky checkout, a slow mobile load time, or a confusing product filter can dramatically impact conversion rates. The path to purchase must be just as compelling, convenient and tailored as the product itself. Following e-commerce…

In this episode of Retail Right Now, Total Retail's Joe Keenan and Marie Albiges discuss the recently released 2025 Best Digital Gift Card Programs report, produced by NAPCO Research in conjunction with Blackhawk Network. This eighth annual report is the most comprehensive assessment of the digital gift card industry in the market. Keenan and Albiges…

Fueled by mobile commerce and innovative acquisition strategies, retailers are expanding globally. The rise of brands like SHEIN and Temu has raised the bar, showing that mobile-first and data-driven approaches can drive extraordinary growth in international markets. Adjust’s latest Mobile App Trends report finds that e-commerce app installs grew 17 percent year-over-year in 2024, with…

Shoppers today expect brands to know them, engage them, and offer value beyond transactions. Loyalty programs that once thrived on simple rewards are evolving into something much more powerful: dynamic customer ecosystems that foster deeper relationships, personalized experiences and long-term engagement. This transformation is being driven by rising consumer expectations. Shoppers now demand seamless, rewarding…

E-commerce brands often chase surface-level metrics like sales volume and return on ad spend (ROAS), believing these numbers define growth. While important, they don't tell the full story. Brands that focus only on these metrics risk leaving money on the table. The real key to sustainable growth lies in a deeper, more strategic approach —…

Many e-commerce merchants believe choosing a PCI-compliant payment processor covers their security responsibilities. Starting March 31, 2025, that assumption put them at risk. Under PCI DSS v4.0.1, even merchants that outsource payment processing must meet stricter security requirements, especially around third-party scripts. For years, outsourcing payment processing allowed merchants to complete a streamlined Self-Assessment Questionnaire…

In today’s noisy world of digital advertising, cutting through the clutter and reaching the right customer can seem impossible. Many brands, especially in e-commerce, are throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping something sticks. That’s not us — and that’s not how we work. As a direct-to-consumer e-commerce brand, we dig into a more strategic,…

Consumer spending on Mother’s Day is expected to reach $34.1 billion this year, according to the annual survey released today by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Prosper Insights & Analytics. The amount is up from last year’s $33.5 billion and follows closely behind the record of $35.7 billion in 2023. Eighty-four percent of U.S. adults…

In episode 480 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Jessica Thompson, global brand president of Halara, women's activewear-inspired everyday apparel. Listen in as Thompson provides an overview of the athleisure brand (1:40), its direct-to-consumer e-commerce distribution channels (2:25), and shares her career journey that lead to her current role (3:10). She discusses the…