Today on Total Retail

Walmart announced last week it has launched a new artificial intelligence assistant called "Sparky" that will summarize product reviews, offer recommendations and help shoppers plan purchases. Separately, the global coffee chain Starbucks unveiled a generative AI assistant for baristas that will allow employees to ask questions about menu items and troubleshoot equipment issues, according to…

Advertisers are expected to pour over $62 billion into retail media this year, up more than $10 billion from last year, making it the go-to channel for ad spend. Built on a strong foundation of first-party retailer data and closed-loop measurement, the U.S. retail media ad market is moving beyond e-commerce into new ad formats,…

If you’ve somehow missed the pastel-colored bottles popping up in every Gen Z tote bag, Touchland is the brand that’s made clean hands cool. The company has grown to $130 million in annual sales and built a brand universe that transcends hygiene. Now, with its recent acquisition into the Church & Dwight family, it sits…

With economic uncertainty, rising costs, and shifting regulations piling on, the pressure on retailers is only intensifying. Shoppers are thinking twice about every purchase. And sustainability? It can start to feel like just another box to check instead of the strategic lever it truly is. When done right, sustainability leads to smarter operations. Reducing waste,…

In today’s competitive retail landscape, simply having a loyalty program isn’t enough to cut through the noise and capture the attention of discerning consumers. In one recent survey, 63 percent of respondents said they base their purchases on the loyalty programs they’re in. Even still, retailers face increasing pressure to differentiate themselves and create more…

Import cargo at the nation’s major container ports is expected to see a surge through this summer as retailers take advantage of a 90-day reduction in tariffs that were recently imposed on China, according to the Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates. According to NRF Vice President for…

Retail workers have a wave of relief coming. Companies are recruiting tech solutions powered by artificial intelligence training agents (agentic AI) that are helping to relieve pressure for frontline staff by better preparing them for high-stress situations — e.g., demanding customers or difficult team dynamics — through immersive, simulated role-play training. With this relief comes…

For years, the retail delivery game was a race. Whoever could slap a “next-day” badge on the checkout screen won. Back in 2018, for example, Rent the Runway ran the social lives of countless New York women. Friday nights hinged on outfits that arrived just in time, and networking coffees and panel appearances often featured…

After years of rapid developments in artificial intelligence technology and customer experience, we’re entering an era when companies can finally redesign their digital interactions to be truly intuitive and transparent. Based on a recent report with observational data from design teams around the world, the most innovative brands will use natural language and zero user…

Retailers are spending more than ever to win repeat customers, but many are losing ground. As consumer expectations evolve, traditional loyalty strategies are falling short. Every year, the data gets more grim: 61 percent of consumers say they’re less loyal to brands than they were just a year ago; 77 percent of Gen Z shoppers…