Today on Total Retail

Nearly four years on from the COVID-19 pandemic, the retail industry continues to face challenges, specifically with labor shortages. Statista research shows that since the pandemic, the rising U.S. retail employment numbers have had a sharp decline, which is expected to continue, with U.S. retail staff predicted to have 500,000 fewer employees by 2026 as…

HomeGoods is shutting down its online store. The discount home decor chain, which is owned by TJX Companies, sent an email to customers Wednesday announcing that it would stop offering online shopping after Oct. 21. TJX reported in August that net sales from e-commerce were less than 2 percent of total sales in its most recent quarter. HomeGoods launched its…

In episode 424 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Darren Abbott, chief creative officer and senior vice president of global product development and innovation at Hallmark, a heritage American, family-owned greeting cards company operating a diversified portfolio of businesses. Listen in as Abbott discusses the launch of Hallmark + Venmo Cards (0:50), why the two…

Are you ready for the holiday shopping season? While it may seem like it’s still a ways off, the reality is now is the time to put in place one of the most important tools you have for keeping your e-commerce business alive and well: a network contingency plan. Even the Big Retailers Feel the…

Businesses, especially those in the service and retail sectors, know all too well the consequences of hiring the wrong employees. Workplace misconduct like theft, violence, harassment and other disruptive behaviors can wreak havoc on a company's bottom line. Take employee theft, for example. This category of misconduct is accompanied by a $50 billion dollar a…

Just about any retailer or brand marketer is going to like the idea of using technology to better understand how consumers shop a store. But what they don’t tend to like is any possibility that the technology being used will upset and even alienate those shoppers. Stories regularly find their way into mainstream media about…

Costco's longtime CEO Craig Jelinek is stepping down from the company after the warehouse club’s spree of pandemic- and inflation-fueled growth. The company said Wednesday that Ron Vachris, its current chief operating officer, will replace Jelinek. The change will take effect Jan. 1. In a company press release, Costco said the two executives have worked together over nearly…

Vanathy Lakshmi is vice president of product and experiences at JCPenney, leading the iconic American brand through a major transformation. Lakshmi recently spoke at Total Retail Tech in Denver, delivering a keynote on strategies for better managing people, processes and technology. In this video interview from the event, she shares more about her role at JCPenney, how…

As store shelves fill with fall favorites, it’s hard to ignore the beginning of the U.S. winter holiday shopping season — and the uptick in American spending that typically goes with it. The frenzy from late September through the new year is a well-established critical time for retailers, which count on the “Golden Quarter” for a…

In the ever-evolving landscape of holiday shopping, consumers' behaviors and priorities are set to change this year. To stay competitive, brands must closely examine these shifts and tailor their strategies accordingly. A recent survey uncovered a few key trends that are expected to reshape the holiday shopping experience. Change in Delivery Expectations Once a significant…