Today on Total Retail

The United States Postal Service (USPS) will not raise pricing by applying a peak season surcharge this holiday season. Wait, what? 2023 will be the fourth peak season since COVID temporarily forced volume surges on the package carriers, and the carriers forced “peak” surcharges on the shipping public. This year, however, the USPS is making…

In the ever-evolving landscape of data privacy, businesses and marketing leaders are facing significant challenges when it comes to understanding and achieving data compliance. The introduction of new cookie-less addressability solutions and interoperability standards across ID resolution platforms has made it increasingly difficult for retail brand teams to navigate and identify the right path towards…

The ongoing tough economic climate is seeing retailers constantly seeking ways to control costs while protecting the experience their customers expect. One interesting trend is the emergence of "nearshoring" — i.e., locating key operations closer to the final point of sale. Rather than having large, centralized warehouses, paying duty and customs charges, dealing with lengthy and…

Rite Aid is negotiating terms of a bankruptcy plan that could see a significant number of its more than 2,100 drugstores permanently close, according to a report. People familiar with the company's talks with creditors told The Wall Street Journal that Rite Aid has proposed to close as many as 500 stores in bankruptcy, and either sell…

Consumers, retailers and intellectual property (IP) owners are likely to benefit from the INFORM Consumers Act. The sale of counterfeit and pirated goods totaled $509 billion globally in 2016, according to an OECD report. Traditionally, individuals sold such goods at flea markets and on street corners. Today they reach a much wider audience through online…

In today’s landscape, retailers already know how valuable data can be. Many are compiling ever-increasing amounts of data that reveal precious insights into customer shopping habits. In fact, 62 percent of retailers report gaining a competitive advantage due to data analytics, according to IBM. But what might be less obvious is how data can overhaul…

April marked 50 years since the first mobile phone call. Since then, mobile devices have matured to become the remote control for our lives, our primary point of digital interaction. Most desktop activity has moved to mobile, providing consumers the ability to instantaneously search the web, shop for goods and services, track online orders, find…

In episode 420 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Erin Malone, director of digital strategy at Free People, a bohemian women's apparel and lifestyle retailer, part of the Urban Outfitters portfolio of brands. Malone provides an overview of the brand and her role (0:50), how Free People is optimizing the online shopping experience (2:30),…

The retail landscape is swiftly gearing up for its busiest time of year, punctuated by Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM). New research paints a picture of an industry feeling the pressure, grappling with economic hurdles, data inconsistencies, and rising costs. Amidst global supply chain disruptions, fluctuating consumer demands and spending, the urgency for brands…

The U.S. Postal Service, fresh off several consecutive significant price hikes, will not include a surcharge this peak season for mailers and shippers sending items during the holidays. The announcement marks a departure from recent USPS strategy, which has increased its prices between early October and mid-January for the last few years. Postal management pointed…