Today on Total Retail

Toys R Us is plotting a bold comeback in the U.S., as it plans to expand its brick-and-mortar presence with as many as 24 new flagship stores and a separate rollout at airports and on cruise ships starting this holiday season. The toy retailer’s parent company, WHP Global, announced what it called the “Air, Land and…

In the ever-evolving business of marketing, one thing has become clear: the era of passive metrics is over. As advertisers navigate this dynamic new world, the deprecation of cookies — a change that holds seismic implications — is at the forefront of the transformation. The looming loss of cookies has, without question, paved the way…

In episode 421 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Chris Wantlin, chief retail officer at Ashley, the No. 1 furniture and mattress retailer in North America. Among other topics, Wantlin discusses the company's recent rebrand, how Ashley is bringing consumer awareness to its brand refresh, and the internal collaboration needed to execute the…

E-commerce is on the cusp of a massive change. With more than 15 years of digitalization behind it, the old ways of doing things will soon no longer be acceptable. For years, e-commerce players have faced the same vital decision, courtesy of economic and business theorist Michael Porter. Imagine a crossroads. One clear path is…

The shopping experience has always been a social activity. From the agoras of ancient Greece to the 1980s mega malls, people have rarely shopped alone. However, in recent times, the surge in e-commerce has altered the landscape, making the process of purchasing concert tickets, fashion, and travel less social. It can be cumbersome to reach…

GameStop announced Thursday morning that billionaire activist investor Ryan Cohen would take over as the video game retailer’s chief executive, chairman and president effective immediately — and he won’t be collecting a salary. GameStop’s board, with Cohen abstaining, unanimously voted to appoint the entrepreneur as the retailer’s top executive on Wednesday. Cohen had previously held the title…

At the Total Retail Tech conference earlier this month in Denver, generative artificial intelligence was a theme of ongoing conversation. From keynote presentations and panel discussions on stage to peer group sessions and one-to-one meetings off stage, attendees were buzzing about generative AI and its current and future impact on their work and the organizations…

Imposter scams were the most common type of fraud reported to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in 2022. Consumers lost $660 million in the U.S. alone to business impersonation scams that year. Brand impersonators and counterfeits have always been a problem for retailers, but technology is making it easy for organized imposters to run scams…

:Effective marketing strategies for the upcoming holiday shopping season include the following: 1. Utilize short-form videos. The competition for the best online experience is accelerating as consumers become increasingly selective about how they spend their time online. With time being a limited resource, it's crucial for brands to ensure that consumers get the most value…

Artificial intelligence is no stranger to the retail industry. Amazon.com was an early adopter of AI, leveraging it more than two decades ago to provide online shoppers with fairly rudimentary product recommendations. The use of AI in retail has advanced substantially since then and is now an important staple for brands’ e-commerce technology stacks, driving…