Product Sourcing

With stay-at-home restrictions easing across the country, what does the future landscape of retail look like? What do consumers face when ordering products online? We do know with the global pandemic that e-commerce has skyrocketed. Unfortunately, with the shift to e-commerce, we've also seen massive amounts of counterfeit products as well as products that were…

We’re already getting super hyped for the holiday season. From delicate snowfalls to generous gift-giving to spending time with family and loved ones, it really is the most wonderful time of the year. If you work in retail, however, the holiday season can mean something very different. Many boutique owners find themselves busier than ever…

Managing spend is a tall order for retailers today. As the workforce grows more geographically distributed, and as employees increasingly drive business spending from the bottom up, it's harder to track cash flow across multiple touchpoints — from sourcing and manufacturing to advertising and employee supplies. COVID-19 has intensified these issues, forcing retailers to make…

The retail landscape of America is undergoing an undeniable transformation. COVID-19 has catapulted e-commerce center stage, with online marketplaces taking over for brick-and-mortar stores amid safety fears and lockdown restrictions. This has proven just how crucial it is to cultivate a robust digital presence, particularly as retailers are facing economic devastation, with 2.1 million job…

On March 2, 2020, a bipartisan group of representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives introduced the Stopping Harmful Offers on Platforms by Screening Against Fakes in E-Commerce Act (the Shop Safe Act 2020) to help stem the growing concern over counterfeit products being offered for sale on online third-party marketplace e-commerce platforms. E-commerce has…

In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Co-Founder Melissa Campanelli interviews Monica Arnaudo, chief merchandising officer at Ulta Beauty, the largest U.S. cosmetics, fragrance, skincare and beauty gifts retailer. Listen in as Arnaudo discusses the launch of the Conscious Beauty initiative, and what the program means for Ulta and its customers.

During these chaotic times, it’s tempting to view corporate social responsibility (CSR) as an optional extra — nice to have, but hardly a top priority for brands that are struggling to meet surging demand, or which are in the process of pivoting into new markets. Even amid the chaos of a global pandemic and widespread protests,…

In episode 251 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Katie Harnetiaux, global head of Amazon Handmade, a shop on Amazon.com featuring handcrafted goods from local artisans. Listen in as Harnetiaux discusses why the Amazon Handmade shop was created as part of the business five years ago, its international expansion, and the types of…

Counterfeiting and pirating of commercial goods is a massive global challenge. As businesses face the threat of counterfeit items, a growing crop of solutions aim to help organizations protect the authenticity and legitimacy of their products. By combining innovations like tracking technology with a proactive approach to piracy, you can stay ahead of potential counterfeiters,…

In episode 245 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Paige McFarling, director of mission advancement at Ten Thousand Villages, a nonprofit fair trade organization that markets handcrafted products made by disadvantaged artisans from more than 120 artisan groups in more than 35 countries. Listen in as McFarling shares the brand's story and mission;…