Today on Total Retail

Fueled by mobile commerce and innovative acquisition strategies, retailers are expanding globally. The rise of brands like SHEIN and Temu has raised the bar, showing that mobile-first and data-driven approaches can drive extraordinary growth in international markets. Adjust’s latest Mobile App Trends report finds that e-commerce app installs grew 17 percent year-over-year in 2024, with…

Shoppers today expect brands to know them, engage them, and offer value beyond transactions. Loyalty programs that once thrived on simple rewards are evolving into something much more powerful: dynamic customer ecosystems that foster deeper relationships, personalized experiences and long-term engagement. This transformation is being driven by rising consumer expectations. Shoppers now demand seamless, rewarding…

Chinese e-tailer Temu has started adding “import charges” of about 145 percent in response to President Donald Trump’s tariffs. The fees, which began appearing over the weekend after price hikes went into effect on Friday, cost more than the individual products consumers are buying and can more than double the price of a typical order. For…

E-commerce brands often chase surface-level metrics like sales volume and return on ad spend (ROAS), believing these numbers define growth. While important, they don't tell the full story. Brands that focus only on these metrics risk leaving money on the table. The real key to sustainable growth lies in a deeper, more strategic approach —…

Inflation anxiety is growing, and shoppers are becoming more selective, value-driven and emotionally invested in the brands they choose to support. This shift presents both a challenge and an opportunity: brands that recognize the evolving consumer mindset and adjust their strategies can win long-term loyalty, while those that fail to adapt risk being left behind.…

In today’s noisy world of digital advertising, cutting through the clutter and reaching the right customer can seem impossible. Many brands, especially in e-commerce, are throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping something sticks. That’s not us — and that’s not how we work. As a direct-to-consumer e-commerce brand, we dig into a more strategic,…

Many e-commerce merchants believe choosing a PCI-compliant payment processor covers their security responsibilities. Starting March 31, 2025, that assumption put them at risk. Under PCI DSS v4.0.1, even merchants that outsource payment processing must meet stricter security requirements, especially around third-party scripts. For years, outsourcing payment processing allowed merchants to complete a streamlined Self-Assessment Questionnaire…

Retailers of all sizes, whether small boutique shops or national chains, face numerous challenges when it comes to fulfilling their tax obligations to local governments. While much attention is often given to the financial burden of taxes themselves, the administrative processes involved in paying these taxes can be equally daunting and time consuming for retailers.…

Consumer spending on Mother’s Day is expected to reach $34.1 billion this year, according to the annual survey released today by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Prosper Insights & Analytics. The amount is up from last year’s $33.5 billion and follows closely behind the record of $35.7 billion in 2023. Eighty-four percent of U.S. adults…

A month rarely goes by without a new platform promising “streamlined” ad buying. It’s no surprise, given that the digital advertising market is expected to reach $513 billion in 2025, according to Statista. Despite new options, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) often stick with what they know: Google, Meta, Microsoft and Amazon.com. The sheer volume…