Today on Total Retail

Instagram’s live shopping functionality quietly went the way of the Dodo Bird in April, limping into obscurity just a few short years after a pandemic-era launch that aimed to capitalize on the eyeballs and wallets of a homebound audience. The move isn’t shocking, and it comes as just the latest in a series of setbacks…

For the third consecutive year, NAPCO Research, in conjunction with Blackhawk Network, has undertaken a comprehensive review of the state of UK merchants’ gift card programmes. The 2023 review included an assessment of retailers’ e-commerce/digital, mobile, and in-store gift card offerings, providing an omnicommerce view into the consumer gift card purchase and recipient experience. The full…

The Vitamin Shoppe last week announced Lee A. Wright as chief executive officer and Muriel Gonzalez as president, effective immediately. Wright has taken the CEO post permanently after serving in the interim since January. He formerly served as the chief commercial officer of Franchise Group, Inc., The Vitamin Shoppe’s parent company, since January 2022. Prior to joining Franchise Group, Wright served in…

Consumers have become incredibly knowledgeable when it comes to the ways in which companies operate — from technical matters like data usage and privacy to societal issues like diversity, equity and inclusion. In turn, we’ve seen decision making not only become more complex, but also more directly related to individual values and moral standards. And while…

In my late 20s, I was 100 percent sure nothing could stop me. I was a hard-charging guy with a clear career path mapped out in my head that led to the CEO’s office — not living in the present and being impatient to get there. Then, at 29, a hole was discovered in my…

It's been more than a decade since the direct-to-consumer (DTC) business model forever changed the world of consumer brands. With an iconic cohort of industry disruptors, including Warby Parker, Casper, and Harry's, the model paved the way for an explosion of businesses built upon direct and authentic relationships with their customers and, in some cases,…

As the economic climate becomes increasingly volatile, more focus has been placed on the consumer. Customers are what keep brands afloat and their behavior can make or break a business. This has always been true, but as we continue to face more uncertainty, many companies are starting to shift their strategies to place more of…

Qurate Retail Group, the owner of shopping networks QVC and HSN, has sold online retailer Zulily to private equity investment firm Regent for an undisclosed sum. Regent owns and operates several consumer brands, including Club Monaco, DIM Paris, La Senza, Escada, and DiamondBack. Terry Boyle, a former Nordstrom executive and e-commerce veteran, was named Zulily’s president and CEO…

In episode 403 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Mari Corella, general manager of home and hard goods at eBay, a global commerce leader that connects millions of buyers and sellers in more than 190 markets around the world. Corella discusses her role and career history in e-commerce (0:44), the eBay Refurbished program…

The last two years have been a roller coaster for online stores. The supply chain disruptions of 2021 led to many merchants struggling to get their hands on enough inventory, and then overbuying to compensate in 2022. But now, with an economic downturn looming and the threat of reduced consumer spending increasing, stores that overstocked…