Today on Total Retail

The Vitamin Shoppe's Parent Company Offered $1B Buyout
March 22, 2023 at 1:12 pm

Franchise Group Inc., which owns The Vitamin Shoppe, Pet Supplies Plus, and five other companies, received an unsolicited $1.05 billion acquisition offer Monday, the company reported. The offer, presented by an unknown buyer, is for $30 per share in cash. Franchise Group Inc. said its board of directors is carefully evaluating the proposal "to determine the…

As Businesses Seek Resilient Supply Chains, Digitalization is Key
March 22, 2023 at 7:54 pm

The current pressures on the supply chain are enormous. Three years after the global pandemic created a tsunami of backups and disruptions that are still reverberating through the supply chain today, brands and retailers are navigating a seemingly endless cavalcade of new threats ranging from inflationary pressures to trade wars to the Russian invasion of…

Retailing in a Recession: E-Commerce Tips to Weather the Storm
March 22, 2023 at 6:34 pm

Despite a difficult 2022, wrought with soaring inflation and mass layoffs, the retail industry ended the year in decent shape with a solid holiday return. However, an economic downturn looms large, as experts predict a 64 percent chance of a U.S. recession in the coming months. Naturally, this spells trouble for retailers as Americans tend…

Composable Commerce: Bringing the Future of Digital to Life
March 22, 2023 at 6:13 pm

The retail industry has seen many shifts over the last decade, but the pandemic drove retail digitalization initiatives to unprecedented levels. Digital commerce has evolved from managing a single channel to an elaborate landscape with multiple touchpoints. Coupled with consumer demand for modern digital experiences, businesses can no longer rely on outdated legacy platforms. Out…

How Loyalty Amplifiers Help Retain Program Members and Foster Brand Advocates
March 22, 2023 at 1:35 pm

Customer retention is tougher than ever due to rising consumer expectations and challenging economic conditions. But that hasn't stopped consumers from using their favorite loyalty programs. They're just more selective about the programs they participate in and the brands they’re loyal to. The first installment of our loyalty amplifiers series covered the steps to acquire…

Amazon to Lay Off 9,000 More Employees in Effort to Become a Leaner Business
March 21, 2023 at 5:08 pm

Amazon.com will lay off 9,000 more employees in the coming weeks, CEO Andy Jassy said in a memo to staff on Monday, reports CNBC. The cuts are on top of the previously announced layoffs that began in November and extended into January. That round totaled more than 18,000 employees, and primarily affected staffers in its retail, devices, recruiting…

How the Internet of Things Enables Retail Excellence
March 21, 2023 at 3:15 pm

People may not realize that retail enterprises have long been among the early adopters of new technology applications in their fight to stay ahead of the competition. In recent years, retailers flocked to Internet of Things (IoT) systems to optimize operations in the face of ever-changing pandemic protocols and to combat ongoing concerns about shrink…

5 Ways E-Commerce Experiences Must Evolve to Succeed Among Economic Uncertainty
March 21, 2023 at 12:26 pm

The economic downturn is dramatically impacting consumer budgets, making shoppers think twice about their spending. This puts pressure on e-commerce merchants to adapt their online shopping experiences to maximize profitable conversions. Meeting this challenge requires a focus on five key areas: 1. Enhance e-commerce site search with dynamic ranking and merchandising. With every cent counting…

Retailing and Partnering With Nonprofits: How to Start a Fundraising Program and Make a Difference
March 21, 2023 at 11:42 am

In today's world, retail companies are faced with intense competition and are constantly seeking ways to differentiate themselves from their competitors. One way to do this is by adopting nonprofit fundraising programs on behalf of their customers. A nonprofit fundraising program is a program where retailers partner with a nonprofit organization to support their cause,…

The Missing Piece in Achieving Retail Operational Excellence: Tech Enablement for Frontline Workers
March 21, 2023 at 11:07 am

Today’s retail organizations are under enormous pressure to make their operations more agile, resilient and productive. However, in many cases they're overlooking one of the main areas where it’s possible to quickly and efficiently make major productivity gains. I’m talking about frontline teams. Many retail employees currently feel neglected by their employers. Almost two-thirds of…