E-Commerce

U.S. retail sales saw strong growth in March, with consumers rushing to buy big-ticket items like cars as the threat of tariffs — and likely higher costs as a result — loomed large. The U.S. Census Bureau reported Wednesday that overall retail sales in March were up 1.4 percent over the same period last year,…

8th Annual Report

According to a recent Harris Poll, shopping outpaced both streaming and social media as the top source of pleasure for global consumers. With over half of respondents admitting they keep a mental wish list for future purchases, and nearly three-quarters of millennials and Gen Z preferring online shopping to traditional in-store experiences, it's clear: online…

We’ll dive into the common blind spots that cause shoppers to bounce, carts to get abandoned, and revenue to slip through the cracks.

The National Retail Federation (NRF) delivered a reassuring message to retailers after President Trump’s reciprocal tariff announcement on April 2. Despite the implementation of tariffs, the NRF expects the inflation rate to remain at current levels of 2.5 percent as measured by the personal consumption expenditure index. In addition, the retail industry is forecast to grow…

GoodwillFinds, Goodwill's online resale marketplace, announced it stopped taking new orders and was shuttering on March 28, according to its website. The nonprofit thrift chain that operates over 3,300 locations launched GoodwillFinds in 2022, creating its first centralized online business. Thrifted items were listed on the site by various Goodwill stores, which also shipped the…

In episode 478 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Megan Porteous, chief revenue officer of Carve Designs, a women's sustainable swimwear and clothing lifestyle brand. Listen in as Porteous discusses the genesis and mission of Carve Designs (1:45), its various sales channels (2:55), and her career background as well as newfound responsibilities at…

Retailers offering online services should be aware of a cybersecurity threat that can impact operations, customer satisfaction, and revenue: automated bots. Leading the charge to an unprecedented surge in malicious bot-driven activity in the retail industry are scalping bots, sophisticated programs designed to purchase high-demand products in bulk. The retail industry is particularly vulnerable. Research…

Three decades into the e-commerce revolution, a truly personalized and seamless online shopping experience remains elusive. Brands and retailers still struggle to make it easy for consumers to find what they want. Consumers prefer online shopping for its convenience and expect a tailored experience. Unfortunately, they often don’t get it. The red cashmere sweater they…

In episode 477 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Ankur Daga, CEO and co-founder of Angara, a vertically integrated online jeweler that sources and procures stones, designs jewelry, and manufactures pieces in-house. Listen in as Daga talks about his background as well as the founding of Angara (1:45), including the white space the…