Today on Total Retail

New U.S. tariffs have prompted brands and retailers to reassess their sourcing and supply chain strategies. While these measures haven’t triggered a broader economic downturn so far, they are contributing to increased volatility and shifts in how businesses across the retail sector source, assemble and sell. Consequently, brands and retailers now face rising supplier costs…

Rite Aid on Monday announced it's filing for bankruptcy for a second time, barely just seven months after the retailer exited Chapter 11 and emerged as a private company. The financially strapped drug store chain said it's looking for a buyer, and re-filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection will help facilitate that process. Rite Aid…

When the cost of living rises faster than paychecks, spending doesn’t stop — it shifts. As inflation and economic uncertainty continue in 2025, consumers are leaning harder on credit to bridge the gap between what they need, want, and can actually afford. In 2024, U.S. consumer debt grew by nearly half a trillion dollars. And…

Not long ago, retail media networks (RMNs) were considered niche players in the digital advertising space, with endemic brands making up the majority of advertisers buying sponsored product listings and display banners on retailers’ owned digital properties. Due to their proximity to the point of purchase, RMNs were effective but largely seen as a lower-funnel…

Phantom inventory is the hidden problem haunting retailers, creating costly disconnects between what their systems say is in stock and what’s actually on shelves. It’s a phenomenon where inventory records show products are available but the physical stock is missing, leading to stockouts, missed sales, and frustrated customers. The impact of phantom inventory goes far…

In the article What Online Retailers Need to Know Before Seeking a Loan, I detailed what e-commerce merchants need to have achieved or understood before seeking funding. Now, let’s discuss what needs to be in place before seeking a second loan. Running an e-commerce business is like navigating a ship: you need the right conditions…

In this exclusive interview, Total Retail speaks with Nikki Baird, vice president of strategy and product at Aptos, to explore the evolving retail landscape. Baird offers valuable insights into shifting consumer behavior, the growing importance of unified customer experiences, and the strategic role of technology — particularly artificial intelligence — in enhancing in-store engagement. She…

Saks Fifth Avenue has launched a multibrand luxury storefront on Amazon Fashion, according to a Tuesday press release. The new shopping section is called Luxury Stores at Amazon. It features a selection of merchandise curated by Saks Fifth Avenue, including women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, beauty, shoes, handbags, and accessories. The launch is accompanied by specially designed…

Loyalty programs have long been a cornerstone of customer retention strategies. However, many still fall short of delivering the personalized experiences customers expect. Traditional loyalty programs often rely on static rules and broad segmentation, offering generic rewards that fail to inspire true loyalty. Predictive artificial intelligence is changing that. It enables brands to build smarter…

Credit cards and e-commerce now dominate modern retail, making cash increasingly obsolete and payment processing critical to a retailer's financial health. Yet many small and medium-sized businesses still do not fully understand how processing fees impact their bottom line.