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The retail industry is a marathon, not a sprint. While retailers and brands can’t risk falling behind their competitors in the short term, they also must plan for the long haul. To achieve this, investments must be made in areas that improve customer retention and conversion and reduce operational costs over the long term. However,…

For the sixth consecutive year, NAPCO Research, in conjunction with Blackhawk Network, has undertaken a comprehensive review of the state of U.S. merchants’ gift card programs. The 2023 review included an assessment of retailers’ e-commerce/digital, mobile, and in-store gift card offerings, providing an omnicommerce view into the consumer gift card purchase and recipient experience. The full report…

Walmart opened a high-tech market fulfillment center in its hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas on Monday, underlining its strategic move toward expanding the use of its stores as fulfillment centers. Located inside Store 100, the center is powered by a proprietary storage and retrieval system named Alphabot. According to Walmart, the new market fulfillment centers will…

Too often, brands and retailers treat their e-commerce and in-store operations as separate businesses. Each has its own product assortment, pricing strategy, inventory availability, and key performance indicators. These businesses tend to wage harmful internal battles for resources and attribution that distract from the needs of the larger organization and/or end consumer. The truth is…

This year, a perfect storm of economic, social and technological headwinds are buffeting the retail industry. Despite analysts’ fears of a 2023 recession, consumers have switched from online to in-store sales in such large numbers, analysts describe the trend as “boomerang” shopping. Even so, researchers are finding that inflation is eating away their purchasing power by…

Nearly 30 years after its introduction as a method for consumers to pay for Blockbuster video rentals, the gift card has evolved from a simple paper gift certificate to a multipurpose tool that brands and consumers are putting to use in new and innovative ways. According to the Annual U.S. Prepaid Consumer Insights Study from…

As part of the 2023 US Merchant Gift Card Omnicommerce Evaluation, US Edition, a comprehensive report produced by Total Retail in conjunction with sponsor partner Blackhawk Network, best practices for the three channels (digital/e-commerce, in-store, mobile) evaluated were included. The best practices are intended to help readers improve the performance of their gift card programs, including…

In the modern age of shopping, there isn't a standard path to purchase. When consumers want to buy a product, they're not limited to purchasing from a brick-and-mortar store. They have countless options on the digital landscape to aid in their journey to check out. From online marketplaces to social media platforms to mobile apps,…

For the sixth consecutive year, NAPCO Research, in conjunction with Blackhawk Network, has undertaken a comprehensive review of the state of U.S. merchants’ gift card programs. The 2023 review included an assessment of retailers’ e-commerce/digital, mobile, and in-store gift card offerings, providing an omnicommerce view into the consumer gift card purchase and recipient experience. The full report…

Bed Bath & Beyond was doing roughly 15 percent of its sales online in 2019 before the pandemic initiated an online shopping boom. As of last summer, 25 percent to 30 percent of the retailer’s revenue came from e-commerce. And yet, Bed Bath & Beyond just declared bankruptcy. As with many retail stories, the proverbial devil…

We’ve seen this one before: As prices rise and wallets shrink, consumers are changing their habits. However, not every industry is losing out. Shoppers are still spending, but they increasingly need discounts and convenience.  For dollar stores and convenience stores, this is their moment to shine. Here’s what they're up against and how they can keep…

Target is making it easier for customers to return products, launching curbside returns last week that allows people to make returns from the comfort of their cars. The retailer's goal is to roll out the service to all stores by the end of the summer, but for now it's available in a quarter of Target's…

E-commerce is gradually becoming the preferred shopping medium for consumers. In 2023, nearly 21 percent of purchases are expected to happen online, amounting to more than $6.3 billion in total spending. Today’s shoppers can do almost anything on a computer or mobile device: collaborate with co-workers, buy groceries, and even purchase a new car. As…

New research shows that only 29 percent of brand site social revenue is currently being tracked by typical analytics and reporting tools. This leaves 71 percent of revenue coming from social channels being incorrectly attributed to direct website visitors. The signs have been there for a while: Consumers are spending on average two-and-a-half hours each…

Spring is here, lockdowns are a fading memory and the economic outlook is brighter. Although uncertainty abounds and wallets remain tight, we may be in for a softer landing than previously thought. You can celebrate the good news by looking for creative ways to earn wallet share when online and in-store traffic are more blended…

Ikea will invest more than $2.2 billion over the next three years into its omnichannel growth strategy in the U.S., marking the Swedish home and furniture company’s biggest investment push since it opened in the U.S. nearly 40 years ago. The retailer’s $2.2 billion investment will be used for a variety of efforts, including expanding new…

Caden Lane is a Texas-based online retailer known for its range of personalized newborn clothing along with nursery decor. The brand has gone from strength to strength since switching its focus from wholesale and brick-and-mortar sales to online-only, direct-to-consumer business. Caden Lane recently reported a 132 percent growth rate — earning the company fourth place…

Amidst challenging times across the retail industry, Ulta Beauty has continued to perform well. The retailer has created long-term relationships with its customers across channels, added new and innovative brands and products to its merchandise mix, and committed to tech investments that it believes will help keep it at the top of the beauty category.…

During a keynote session earlier this week at Shoptalk in Las Vegas, Joanne Crevoiserat, CEO of Tapestry, parent of brands Coach, Kate Spade, and Stuart Weitzman, detailed the organization's strategy for strengthening its brands and winning over customers in a shifting retail landscape. Here are some highlights from Crevoiserat's interview with Sara Eisen, journalist at CNBC. On Marketing…

Martech companies often throw around the terms artificial intelligence and machine learning, and marketers are left wondering how to sort through the hype and understand if and how these technologies help. This problem is especially pronounced in attribution, which is crucial to optimizing marketing campaigns but suffers from doubts about its very possibility. Claims that…