E-Commerce

Walmart announced last week it has launched a new artificial intelligence assistant called "Sparky" that will summarize product reviews, offer recommendations and help shoppers plan purchases. Separately, the global coffee chain Starbucks unveiled a generative AI assistant for baristas that will allow employees to ask questions about menu items and troubleshoot equipment issues, according to…

4th Annual Report

Originally coined by Chris Messina (inventor of the #hashtag) back in 2015, conversational commerce marries text messaging with e-commerce, empowering retailers to better manage the entire customer journey, from origination and customer service, all the way to checkout. Brands are tapping this trend by integrating real-time messaging throughout various parts of the customer journey. Essentially,…

The North Face and Cartier have become the latest brands to report that hackers have stolen customer data in cyber attacks, reports Yahoo Finance. Both brands have reported that data such as customer names and email addresses have been accessed, although financial information hasn't been affected. Outdoor clothing brand The North Face said it was…

The 2025 edition of the annual Best Digital Gift Card Programs report, produced by Blackhawk Network and NAPCO Research, offers a deep dive into how 100 U.S. merchants are optimizing their digital gift card programs. The report is based on the evaluation of 100 U.S. brands' digital gift card programs across 175 unique criteria. In addition…

In today’s e-commerce landscape, delivering a seamless, intuitive and high-performing digital journey is the difference between growth and stagnation. A clunky checkout, a slow mobile load time, or a confusing product filter can dramatically impact conversion rates. The path to purchase must be just as compelling, convenient and tailored as the product itself. Following e-commerce…

In this episode of Retail Right Now, Total Retail's Joe Keenan and Marie Albiges discuss the recently released 2025 Best Digital Gift Card Programs report, produced by NAPCO Research in conjunction with Blackhawk Network. This eighth annual report is the most comprehensive assessment of the digital gift card industry in the market. Keenan and Albiges…

Fueled by mobile commerce and innovative acquisition strategies, retailers are expanding globally. The rise of brands like SHEIN and Temu has raised the bar, showing that mobile-first and data-driven approaches can drive extraordinary growth in international markets. Adjust’s latest Mobile App Trends report finds that e-commerce app installs grew 17 percent year-over-year in 2024, with…

Shoppers today expect brands to know them, engage them, and offer value beyond transactions. Loyalty programs that once thrived on simple rewards are evolving into something much more powerful: dynamic customer ecosystems that foster deeper relationships, personalized experiences and long-term engagement. This transformation is being driven by rising consumer expectations. Shoppers now demand seamless, rewarding…

E-commerce brands often chase surface-level metrics like sales volume and return on ad spend (ROAS), believing these numbers define growth. While important, they don't tell the full story. Brands that focus only on these metrics risk leaving money on the table. The real key to sustainable growth lies in a deeper, more strategic approach —…