Startups
May 12, 2025 at 8:53 am
In episode 481 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Matthew Kelly, founder and owner of Detailing World, the largest selection of professional-grade car detailing products operating over a dozen stores and wholesale nationwide. Listen in as Kelly provides an overview of Detailing World (1:30), why he entered the market with a physical storefront…
November 1, 2024 at 4:36 pm
This video features a keynote from Jane Park, CEO and founder of Tokki, titled "Why Technology is at the Core of My Entrepreneurial Spirit" from Total Retail Tech 2024 in Charlotte, NC. Consumer tech entrepreneur Jane Park, CEO and founder of Tokki, a new line of TikTok-friendly gift bags that are digitally equipped with QR code…
October 14, 2024 at 6:19 pm
Consumer tech entrepreneur Jane Park is CEO and founder of Tokki, a new line of TikTok-friendly gift bags that are digitally equipped with QR code greeting cards. Park spoke at the Total Retail Tech event last month, sharing her career journey — and the influence that technology has had on it. The former Starbucks executive…
October 9, 2024 at 3:02 pm
In the E-Commerce Business Loans: What Sellers Need to Know article, I defined an e-commerce loan, how it works, the pros and cons, and the best candidates for getting traditional funding support. Now, let’s explore other funding options for online sellers. Business Credit Cards Credit cards allow small e-commerce companies to manage daily operational expenses…
August 26, 2024 at 7:23 pm
Off-price department store chain TJ Maxx has launched a new incubator program in partnership with celebrity stylist Micaela Erlanger to support emerging stylists. Named “Styled by Runway,” the program provides five upcoming stylists with career-building mentorship, a platform to refine their styling aesthetic, and access to high-end brands through TJ Maxx's premium designer shop, Runway.…
August 21, 2024 at 6:30 pm
Sara Blakely, who founded the billion-dollar company Spanx over two decades ago, announced Tuesday the launch of Sneex, a hybrid luxury sneaker and high heel that goes for $395 to $595. Multiple news outlets reported that Blakely designed a shoe that "blends the style of a traditional high heel with the performance and comfort of…
June 4, 2024 at 8:58 pm
Investment firm Consortium Brand Partners announced on Monday that it acquired athleisure brand Outdoor Voices on May 15 for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition comes three months after Sourcing Journal reported that the 10-year-old activewear startup was planning to file for bankruptcy. Once a hit among millennials for its colorful athleisure in its signature geometric patterns,…
May 7, 2024 at 5:24 pm
Macy’s has chosen 26 entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities for its 2024 vendor accelerator program, known as “The Workshop at Macy’s,” reports Yahoo Finance. Each participant completing the program receives a $5,000 business grant, and the winner of a pitch contest will get a $100,000 grant, per a Macy’s press release. In addition to getting access…
December 11, 2023 at 2:54 pm
In episode 431 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Anna Harman, co-founder and CEO, and Lisa Bubbers, co-founder and chief brand officer, of Studs, a new ear piercing experience that enables consumers to express themselves through "earscaping." Listen in as Harman and Bubbers provide an overview of the company (0:55), their inspiration for…
November 9, 2023 at 8:01 pm
Diana Ganz is co-founder of SuitShop, a destination for affordable, size- and gender-inclusive, and yours-to-keep suiting. Ganz recently spoke on a panel discussing emerging technology trends at Total Retail Tech in Denver. In this video interview from the event, she provides a overview of the SuitShop business, identifies what she attributes the growth of the business to, and…
