Today on Total Retail

Rite Aid is negotiating terms of a bankruptcy plan that could see a significant number of its more than 2,100 drugstores permanently close, according to a report. People familiar with the company's talks with creditors told The Wall Street Journal that Rite Aid has proposed to close as many as 500 stores in bankruptcy, and either sell…

Consumers, retailers and intellectual property (IP) owners are likely to benefit from the INFORM Consumers Act. The sale of counterfeit and pirated goods totaled $509 billion globally in 2016, according to an OECD report. Traditionally, individuals sold such goods at flea markets and on street corners. Today they reach a much wider audience through online…

In today’s landscape, retailers already know how valuable data can be. Many are compiling ever-increasing amounts of data that reveal precious insights into customer shopping habits. In fact, 62 percent of retailers report gaining a competitive advantage due to data analytics, according to IBM. But what might be less obvious is how data can overhaul…

April marked 50 years since the first mobile phone call. Since then, mobile devices have matured to become the remote control for our lives, our primary point of digital interaction. Most desktop activity has moved to mobile, providing consumers the ability to instantaneously search the web, shop for goods and services, track online orders, find…

In episode 420 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Erin Malone, director of digital strategy at Free People, a bohemian women's apparel and lifestyle retailer, part of the Urban Outfitters portfolio of brands. Malone provides an overview of the brand and her role (0:50), how Free People is optimizing the online shopping experience (2:30),…

The retail landscape is swiftly gearing up for its busiest time of year, punctuated by Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM). New research paints a picture of an industry feeling the pressure, grappling with economic hurdles, data inconsistencies, and rising costs. Amidst global supply chain disruptions, fluctuating consumer demands and spending, the urgency for brands…

The U.S. Postal Service, fresh off several consecutive significant price hikes, will not include a surcharge this peak season for mailers and shippers sending items during the holidays. The announcement marks a departure from recent USPS strategy, which has increased its prices between early October and mid-January for the last few years. Postal management pointed…

REI, a leading seller of outdoor apparel and equipment, has a unique co-op business model that includes a quadruple bottom line. The retailer closely monitors and reports on the health of the business, as well as the health of its employees, its co-op members, and society at large. That quadruple bottom line and company mission, different…

The holidays are filled with myths, misconceptions and half-truths. We’ve all heard them: “Santa is real,” “I love this heinous sweater,” or “I’m not sure where that last cookie went.” When it comes to the retail industry, myths about customer experience (CX) are some of the most pervasive. During the holiday season, it’s critical for…

With online shopping maintaining its edge over the in-store experience post-pandemic, brands are already focusing on their e-commerce advertising strategies ahead of the holidays — from social media integration to maximizing their use of consumer data. According to a recent survey, a staggering 66 percent of e-commerce decision makers said they were prioritizing collecting first-party customer data in…