Technology

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,…

As concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic wane, shoppers are returning to brick-and-mortar stores — now with much higher expectations for smooth, seamless omnichannel customer experiences. As evidence of consumer demand, in-store sales jumped by 13.4 percent year-over-year in May 2022, compared to only 2.2 percent growth in online sales. That’s promising, but to keep customers coming…

Even with high levels of inflation and a recession predicted to bear down on us in 2023, consumers are eyeing this holiday season with eagerness — they’re ready and willing to splurge on holiday spending this year, according to a recent McKinsey report. Since this might be the last good time for retailers to cash in…

Strong data governance is crucial for retailers nowadays. To keep up with the competitive market, companies must deliver customer-centric retail strategies that can respond to the ever-changing wants and needs of the consumer. This means developing a data strategy that provides a holistic view of customers. Red Wing Shoes, the durable and comfortable footwear manufacturer,…

For all their virtues, a common complaint about customer data platforms (CDPs) and CRM systems is the prolonged training times that these technologies require in order to realize their benefits. The most valuable capabilities on these platforms are in many cases only accessible to those technicians that have acquired hard-won skills and mastered their complexities.…

According to Mastercard SpendingPulse, in-store sales are anticipated to increase 7.9 percent this holiday shopping season, with an estimated 4.2 percent increase in online sales. A survey by Deloitte predicts an even stronger e-commerce increase of between 12.8 percent and 14.3 percent. This growth points to an expected increase in shoppers contacting retailers for different…

In episode 378 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Nathan Sanders, CEO of Brook Furniture Rental, an industry leader in home and office furniture rentals. Sanders discusses Brook Furniture Rental's recent expansion from its core B-to-B business into direct-to-consumer selling (0:52), how both consumer and business customers can order from the company (4:13), and…

We're doing business in interesting times, with retailers navigating tidal wave and drought-like conditions. With the pandemic in the rear-view mirror, inflation underway, and the 2022 holiday season upon us, how are small and midsize business (SMB) retailers faring? According to Verizon Business’ Third Annual State of Small Business Survey, retailers remain upbeat regarding their…

While the metaverse may not be widespread in retail just yet, there’s clear excitement among industry marketers about the new business opportunities it presents. This sentiment was made clear during a panel discussion that took place at this year's Total Retail Tech event.