Today on Total Retail

Amazon Prime Day, which began at 3 a.m. July 11 and ends at midnight July 12, saw average orders up from last year, according to data provided by Numerator, a data and tech company serving the market research space. As of 4 p.m. July 11, the average Prime Day order was $56.64,  compared to $53.14 in…

It’s estimated that 30 percent of apparel and shoes purchased online are returned. And per the National Retail Federation, the projected cumulative cost of returns last year was $761 billion (this equates to 17 percent of all purchases, an 11 percent increase from our previous year's research). Returns are an expensive proposition for retailers. As…

Shoplifting continues to be a growing concern for businesses all across the globe. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), shoplifting incidents increased by a staggering 21 percent in the 12 months leading up to March 2022. Today, we’ll explore some of the key reasons why shoplifting frequency is on the rise, as well as exploring…

For three years, consumers have endured a crash course in supply chain economics. And while the COVID pandemic is no longer directly responsible for major disruptions, others have risen and fallen in a fluid counterpoint worthy of a Mozart symphony — from the Russian invasion of Ukraine to Chinese threats against Taiwan, inflationary trends to…

A recent consumer survey revealed that 76 percent of shoppers say they will stop doing business with a company after only two poor experiences, and these experiences can even occur in the same transaction. As consumers demand more value for their money during an uncertain economy, retailers must deliver a seamless, efficient customer service experience by leveraging automation.…

Online prices in June 2023 fell 2.6 percent year-over-year (YoY), the most significant decrease since May 2020, when prices fell 1.5 percent YoY, according to the latest online inflation data from the Adobe Digital Price Index. June marks the 10th consecutive month of YoY price decreases, with over half of Adobe’s tracked categories (11 of 18)…

Since 1872, the retail industry has witnessed the power of direct mail firsthand. Aaron Montgomery Ward's revolutionary mail-order business, Montgomery Ward and Company, kickstarted a retail revolution. A modest one-page "catalog" marked the beginning of a transformative era for retail direct mail, igniting the immense potential of reaching customers through their mailboxes. In today's highly…

It’s clear that artificial intelligence is here to stay. Soon, every piece of software and industry will have AI in it. But, naturally, it’s scary. There's so much unknown and the recent Senate hearings on regulating AI have brought up new fears across every industry. Will jobs get replaced? Why would I ever trust this…

Changing consumer habits in the virtualized post-pandemic world have transformed the e-commerce industry. With more consumers taking advantage of online ordering and in-store pickup options, e-commerce demand is expanding and the mix is changing rapidly, leaving some retailers struggling to adapt. Not to mention, as Amazon.com continues to dominate the fast-paced retail industry with its…

The retail industry is an integral part of the U.S. economy, providing jobs for 52 million people across the country, more than any other industry. Frontline retail workers are the glue that holds businesses together. Yet, the challenges they face often go unaddressed, especially given their growing list of responsibilities, made even longer by the…