Technology

Dara Meath is the former divisional chief information officer and development leader of digital and e-commerce at Conair LLC. Earlier this week she was named the new senior vice president and chief technology officer for Build-A-Bear Workshop. While attending Total Retail Tech last fall, Meath sat down with our editorial team to discuss how technology influenced her…

There’s no doubt small businesses are a large part of the American economic fabric. In fact, the U.S. Small Business Administration Office reported 32.5 million small businesses in 2021, comprising 99.9 percent of companies nationwide and employing 61.2 million people. This year, Cox Business released results of its 2022 consumer sentiment survey, focused on uncovering…

With unprecedented worker shortages coupled with a surplus of inventory, retailers are bracing for a challenging start to the new year. While Black Friday discounts (that seem to creep earlier and earlier before Thanksgiving every year) incentivize consumers to a certain extent, many retailers are finding themselves strapped for customer service and sales staff —…

Carol Schuster is the technology and business information advisor at Lafayette 148 New York, a luxury womenswear brand. While attending Total Retail Tech last fall, Schuster sat down with our editorial team to discuss her role at Lafayette 148 and how it's evolving amidst the face-paced retail technology sector. She shares the technology solution she believes will have…

Against a backdrop of inflation, weakened consumer spending power, and lingering supply chain disruption sparked by the pandemic, retailers continue to face growing complexity and uncertainty. Traffic routing, inventory management, omnichannel purchasing, staff scheduling — all have contributed to increased challenges for the industry. Forward-looking retailers are embracing new technologies to help navigate today’s dynamic…

Predictions for 2023 seem pretty dismal right now. As the recession and labor shortage continue to batter retailers, however, there are a few things they can do to become more efficient while setting themselves up for a more promising 2024. Supply chain efficiency will be one of the biggest challenges facing retailers and impacting consumers.…

Retailers’ bearings for demand forecasting are now better calibrated than they were just a couple of years ago, although shockwaves from supply chain and distribution disruptions persist in some areas. These challenges create a disconnect between what retailers think is the "new normal" vs. what their actual "new normal" likely is. This dichotomy hinders their ability…

While the holidays are a joyous season for most of us, they can feel like a lump of coal for retail contact center agents. Between Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the Christmas rush, retail contact centers are bombarded with calls from customers making returns, asking questions about products, or not-so-politely complaining. This spike in volume…

The events of the last few years — Brexit, the pandemic, The Great Resignation, a cost-of-living crisis — have caused evolving challenges that continue to ripple through the retail industry. One of the biggest causes for concern for businesses today is a mass shortage of workers as people switch to remote or at-home working, decide…

Earlier this year, Walmart issued a new mandate which required suppliers in certain departments to begin providing RFID tags, joining retailers such as Nordstrom in expanding its use of the technology. Having succeeded with its use of RFID for its apparel products, Walmart has told its suppliers that any brand supplying products for its home,…