Today on Total Retail

A lot has changed since the pandemic, yet one debate continues to divide retail experts and it involves the uncertain future of brick-and-mortar stores. Pessimists argue that the return on investment is too low, and that the migration to e-commerce is only just beginning. Others believe that in-store shopping serves an experiential purpose, which cannot…

The retail industry is in the midst of a seismic shift: an era defined by heightened customer privacy concerns, increasing privacy regulations, and the impending demise of third-party cookies. With major platforms like Apple (iOS and Safari) and Firefox leading the charge to abandon cookies, third-party identifiers have dropped 50 percent to 60 percent in…

Authenticity is at the forefront of every consumer buying decision, thus making reviews a barometer for a product and a company’s trustworthiness. Forty-nine percent of consumers trust reviews as much as personal recommendations from friends and family members, creating a level of confidence with direct revenue implications. Marketers have made leaving product reviews extremely accessible to capitalize on their power, pulling from multiple…

In episode 411 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Jake Lestan, senior director of consumer engagement at Valvoline, an American retail automotive services company. During the interview, Lestan provides an overview of his role (0:35), how Valvoline is future-proofing its marketing with empathy (1:60), and an example of an empathetic marketing campaign in…

Lowe's and Petco have announced the expansion of their pilot program that brings products, services and expertise — for both home and pets — into a one-stop shop, growing from 15 Lowe's stores to nearly 300 locations by year-end. Focusing on rural communities across the country, this expansion offers a new convenience to shoppers, providing access to…

In today's ever-evolving digital landscape, the checkout process has emerged as a pivotal moment for online merchants to not only differentiate themselves from competitors but also deliver an exceptional shopping experience for their customers. As the demand for convenience continues to grow and new payment methods gain popularity, retailers must understand how to best leverage…

The retail industry is impacted by fraud every day — and oftentimes every hour — as incidents continue to run rampant. Bad actors infiltrate both small and large businesses regularly, resulting in billions of dollars in losses for retailers each year. In fact, fraud cost Americans nearly $8.8 billion in 2022, with 2.4 million consumers…

Despite the fact that the retail landscape continues to undergo massive waves of post-COVID evolution, there are many things that still haven’t changed — like the fact that consumers continue to go to physical stores to shop and that the physical portion of retailers' businesses still command the largest share of their revenues by a…

In today's fast-paced digital world, personalized experiences have become an expectation rather than a privilege. From tailored recommendations on streaming platforms to customized news feeds on social media, consumers have grown accustomed to having their preferences catered to. This desire for personalization has long extended to the retail industry, but recent studies continue to reveal…

GNC, the 87-year-old vitamin and dietary supplement company, announced Tuesday it would be offering its loyalty customers a free supplemental healthcare service. GNC Health is now available exclusively to GNC PRO Access members. A membership to this loyalty program costs $39.99 a year, and the healthcare service includes telehealth appointments for urgent and personal health needs…