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The Bright Side of Retail
It's no secret that the retail industry is beset with a number of challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, not the least of which are brick-and-mortar store closures. It's our responsibility at Total Retail to provide our audience with the latest news and analysis on the industry, even when that seems to be one bad story after the next. Truth be told, it can begin to become discouraging, leaving retailers asking themselves, "Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?"
This issue of Total Retail Report, and every Tuesday issue going forward for the foreseeable future, will answer that question with an emphatic "Yes!" While challenges are all still very much a part of the retail industry's everyday reality, so too are wonderful and uplifting stories of retailers and brands banding together to give back to those most in need in this time of crisis. From monetary donations for COVID-19 relief to manufacturing product and equipment for our front-line healthcare workers, and in so many other ways, retailers are doing their part to help make a positive difference in the lives of so many.
As such, we wanted to use this space to put a smile on our subscribers' faces by highlighting the positive stories emerging from the retail industry during this otherwise difficult time. The Bright Side of Retail is meant to reinforce the positive that's happening within our community, and perhaps inspire others to follow suit. Kudos to the retailers that are included in today's news roundup, and we look forward to highlighting more in this space going forward. Lastly, we want to hear from you with positive stories that we can share with our audience. You can reach me at jkeenan@napco.com.
Stay safe, be well, and we will get through this together.
Sincerely,
Joe Keenan
Editor-in-Chief
Total Retail
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by Ashfaque Chowdhury U.S. retail sales rose for the fifth straight month in June 2026, according to the Census Bureau’s Advance Retail Sales Report, and with it comes a reimagined, dynamic customer experience. For years, fast fulfillment was a competitive advantage. Now it’s the baseline. Retailers who invested in speed didn’t build a moat — they set a…
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by Dirk Hoerig For the past two years, AI has rapidly reshaped how consumers discover and evaluate products. Instead of solely relying on traditional search engines, shoppers are turning to AI assistants and large language models (LLM’s) to research purchases, compare options, and receive recommendations. Now, AI’s influence is extending into the transaction itself. Recent announcements from major…
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by Johannes Panzer The big summer sale season kicked off with a bang this year, with Amazon electing to move its annual summer promotion from July to June. This tactical shift meant that Amazon Prime Day, Walmart Deals, and Target Circle Deal Days overlapped during the last week of June, creating one of the most competitive promotional periods…
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Sponsored by Blackhawk Network
For the ninth consecutive year, NAPCO Research and Blackhawk Network (BHN) have partnered to deliver the industry’s leading benchmark report on the evolving direct digital gift card market. This comprehensive study evaluates 120 North American brands across 147 criteria, including AI search, group gifting, and delivery experience. Readers will gain benchmark data, actionable recommendations to strengthen digital gift card programs, and real-world examples of how leading brands are enhancing customer experience, loyalty, and growth.
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by Ronen Vengosh E-commerce sales reached record levels this summer. Prime Day sales exceeded $26 billion in consumer spending, a 9 percent jump over last year, nearly matching the $32 billion shoppers spent during Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM) in 2025. This points to a holiday shopping season that will be the biggest on record. For operations…
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by Derek Slager Retail has spent the past two years asking the same question: Which AI model should we use? It’s an understandable place to start. New foundation models continue to arrive, each promising faster insights, better recommendations, and more efficient operations. Yet many retailers are discovering that deploying AI is much easier than generating consistent business value…
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