Merchandising

As e-commerce solidifies its position as a critical revenue growth driver for brands, the transition from in-store strategies to effective online practices presents significant challenges. Organizations must re-evaluate how they operate to take a more omnichannel approach. Central to this transformation, and an underrated element of it, is category management. Traditionally, category management has focused…

For many retailers, profit margins are thin and getting thinner — a concern all organizations must weigh in 2025 with price pressures, potential tariffs, and an uncertain economic outlook posing new challenges. The U.S. grocery business, for example, is operating at its lowest profit margin (1.6 percent) since before the pandemic, according to FMI |…

On episode 470 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Heidi Hurst, head of product development and marketing at EVEREST, a new home organization and storage brand that elevates the potential of every room with stylish and customizable solutions. Listen in as Hurst describes the brand's product and its "beautility" vision to offer beauty…

As retail brands grow, they need a sound go-to-market strategy. Many lack in-house expertise to set marketing in motion and enlist an ad agency, which may recommend TV, radio or even print advertising. But when it’s time for the product to hit the store floor, that agency — and its expertise — is nowhere to…

E-commerce is predicted to be the primary driver of holiday retail sales this year, with the National Retail Federation (NRF) forecasting that shoppers will spend between $979.5 billion and $989 billion in November and December of 2024. As the holiday shopping season kicks off, retailers face increasing competition, pushing them to leverage every advantage to…

In episode 467 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Emily Erusha-Hilleque, senior vice president of private brand, and Sam Archibald, general merchandise manager of apparel at Macy's, the largest retail brand of Macy’s, Inc. and the style source for generations of customers. Listen in as Erusha-Hilleque and Archibald share why the retailer is…

Merchandisers are drowning in data but starved for insight. In their work, they must rapidly make decisions on which products to purchase, which to stop buying, those that need a bit of extra promotion, and those that should be moved back in favor of other goods. The days of making these decisions based on a…

One critical factor to achieving success in retail is understanding consumer behavior. Every day, the average consumer makes tens of thousands of decisions, driven in part by habits, impulses and even laziness. When pushed beyond the threshold, decision paralysis is induced — the paradox of choice. In retail, a proliferation of products within categories is…

While any sale is welcome to brands in today’s highly competitive e-commerce market, maximizing the sale to the consumer once you have their attention is obviously a more attractive proposition. Properly packaged and presented, product bundling is a standout tactic to give consumers the best possible value while selling them more of what you already…

Archive, a branded resale technology platform, recently partnered with New Balance to launch in-store trade-in at nearly 100 participating U.S. retail locations. As the natural progression of the New Balance Reconsidered program, which launched earlier this year, customers can now bring in their gently worn footwear to receive a voucher towards their next purchase at New Balance locations.…