Today on Total Retail

AI in Retail: The Past, Present and Future
June 20, 2023 at 10:04 am

Automation in retail was introduced many decades ago – from mass manufacturing to point of sale (POS) systems to next-day delivery, companies have been moving at the speed of light to meet growing consumer demand and expectations. And while artificial intelligence has existed since as early as the 1940s, November 2023 will go down in…

Home Delivery for the Ages: The Demographic Opportunity
June 19, 2023 at 3:44 pm

Not all consumers are the same — and retailers are realizing that it’s not just buying behavior that differs across customers. While most e-commerce merchants employ data-backed buyer personas that describe what drives each ideal customer to purchase, many vendors are recognizing the value of implementing delivery personas and tailoring their delivery options to meet…

Retail Loyalty Expert Emily Teele on Building Culturally Diverse Teams
June 19, 2023 at 1:52 pm

In episode 406 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Emily Teele, retail loyalty expert, Nike leader and KindWork board member. Listen in as Teele provides an overview of her role at Nike (0:42), what drew her to take on the international position (1:33), and how she's seen the loyalty space evolve throughout her…

NRF: Retail Sales Rose in May Despite Economic Challenges
June 19, 2023 at 1:42 pm

Retail sales rose again in May as consumers continued to spend despite economic challenges, the National Retail Federation (NRF) said last week. NRF’s calculation of retail sales -- which is based on U.S. Census Bureau data but excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants to focus on core retail -- showed overall retail sales in…

AI Shopping Journeys: Finding the Right Balance
June 19, 2023 at 1:20 pm

When you browse an online store, chances are you've encountered a persistent chat bot lurking in the bottom right corner, eagerly offering its assistance to help you track your order, locate specific items, or handle other mundane tasks. Now, imagine a scenario where this chat bot steps out of its digital boundaries and guides you…

The Role of Personal Values in Improving Cross-Selling and Loyalty Initiatives
June 19, 2023 at 1:13 pm

In today's digitally-driven, choice-saturated world, understanding consumers' demographics just isn't enough to create genuine connections that compel them to choose your brand over the millions of other options just clicks away. It's only through understanding a person's internal motivations and deep-rooted personal values that marketers can achieve long-lasting connections. This deeper understanding also helps brands…

How to Remove Silos From Your Google Strategy
June 21, 2023 at 2:51 pm

In today's digital landscape, Google is the first go-to platform for users seeking information, products, and services. As Google continues to be an ultra-competitive platform, crafting a winning search strategy has become a daunting task for search marketers. Furthermore, the unavailability of key data points in current Google reports has posed more challenges to achieving…

Ikea’s Chief Supply Chain Officer on Driving Transformation
June 15, 2023 at 10:54 am

Ikea has set its sights on the U.S. in a new way: While the company has 52 retail locations in the country, it’s investing $2.2 billion to add more U.S. stores, expand its omnichannel options, and improve the customer experience for American shoppers. Speaking at the Home Delivery World conference in Philadelphia on Wednesday, Ikea's…

Mitigating Unhappy Customers in a Tight Economy With Data Analytics 
June 15, 2023 at 12:30 pm

In a tight economy, retaining customers is crucial for the survival of any retail company. However, despite the best efforts of businesses, unhappy customers can still occur, leading to a range of issues such as negative reviews, decreased customer loyalty, and lost revenue. The Impact of Unhappy Customers in a Tight Economy Retaining customers in…

Driving Brand Loyalty Amid Supply Chain and Price Pressures
June 15, 2023 at 12:03 pm

Brand loyalty can be a fickle thing, especially when consumers feel the pressure of high prices and the frustration of out-of-stocks. When shopping online, these issues can come across as even more impersonal, further hindering brand loyalty. For example, after a long workday, there are perhaps fewer things more frustrating for a busy parent than…