Merchandising

In episode 489 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Paul Weingard, president and CEO of Schylling, the iconic toy company marking 50 years in the industry this year. Listen in as Weingard provides an overview of the company's history and current business (1:30), his 18-year career at Schylling (3:25), and how the brand…

Best Buy is expanding its inventory list by launching a third-party marketplace to compete in the e-commerce space, multiple news outlets reported Wednesday. The company launched its digital marketplace Tuesday, saying it more than doubled the number of products available, including entirely new categories and brands. The marketplace is run on the Mirakl platform, which…

Best Buy announced late last week that it will test mini-showrooms in some of its stores featuring Ikea products to show off kitchen design elements from the home retailer beside home appliances from the electronics store. Beginning this fall, the program will debut in 10 Best Buy stores across Florida and Texas. Each store will…

Target filed more trademark applications than any other company in the U.S. last year, reflecting its aggressive push to expand its private-label portfolio amid a competitive retail landscape. Target Brands Inc., the Minneapolis-based retailer’s subsidiary, submitted 525 trademark applications to the USPTO in 2024, the most among all companies, including entertainment, gaming, and pharmaceutical players.…

In today’s fast-paced retail environment, gut feelings and guesswork are no longer enough to make effective business decisions. Success belongs to retailers that harness the power of data, turning insights into action to elevate customer experiences, streamline operations, and maximize profitability. Luxury U.K. brand Selfridges is a prime example of how collecting customer data can…

In the ever-evolving world of retail, where digital experiences increasingly define brand perception and customer loyalty, the efficiency and intelligence of your product information management (PIM) system can be a game-changer. Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic tool — it’s here, reshaping how retailers manage, enrich and present product data across channels. Curious…

In episode 482 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Matt McCabe, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer at Academy Sports + Outdoors, one of the nation's largest sporting goods and outdoor stores. Listen in as McCabe discusses the addition of the Jordan Brand into 145 of its stores and its e-commerce site…

Retail buyers have long operated at the crossroads of instinct and information. For years, they've juggled the competing demands of data analysis, strategic decision-making, and vendor management — often with limited tools and overwhelming volumes of information. Success was too often tied to whoever could best navigate internal systems, create the cleanest reports, or arrive…

New U.S. tariffs have prompted brands and retailers to reassess their sourcing and supply chain strategies. While these measures haven’t triggered a broader economic downturn so far, they are contributing to increased volatility and shifts in how businesses across the retail sector source, assemble and sell. Consequently, brands and retailers now face rising supplier costs…

Fashion merchandising is alive and well. Despite fears of artificial intelligence making e-commerce sites as monotonous and predictable as ChatGPT writing, “In today’s fast-paced world,” fashion websites are as diverse as ever. You have brands like Zara, whose site feels like an extension of a fashion magazine — curated, artistic and aspirational, and others like…