The Heart of Wayfair’s In-Store Experience
Joe Keenan
In episode 493 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Liza Lefkowski, vice president and chief merchant of stores at Wayfair, a leading home and furniture retailer. The interview was recorded at Shoptalk Fall in Chicago last month. Lefkowski discusses Wayfair’s strategy of using …
Why Culture is Core to NFM’s Tech Road Map
Alexis Schmigel
Robyn Messerly, chief information technology officer at Nebraska Furniture Mart (NFM), offers an insightful perspective on the impact of technology and culture on the retailer’s operations. From using advanced marketing technology to fostering a unique workplace culture, Messerly delves into how NFM stays ahead in …
Why Mobile App Security is Now a Retail Imperative, Not a Checklist
Jason Cortlund
In today’s retail landscape, shoppers browse, buy and interact through mobile apps at every stage of the omnichannel customer journey. For many brands, their app is the digital storefront, the primary engine of customer engagement, and a critical revenue driver. This central role creates a …
CRM Messaging Strategies to Turn Holiday Chaos Into Conversation
Paige White
The holiday season is the noisiest time of the year for marketers, and consumers are flooded with emails, texts, push notifications, and in-app messages. To stand out, your messaging must be more than just clever copy. It needs a clear strategy, operational discipline, and the …
Alt Text: Best Practices & Evolving Concerns
Roop
On websites and in marketing emails, social posts, and other online content, alt text helps a wide range of people fully understand your content by providing a plain-text alternative to images. However, using alt text optimally isn’t as simple as just inserting a text …
Toys R Us Ramps Up Store Openings for the Holidays
Toys R Us has massive expansion plans for this holiday season. 100 days before Christmas, the toy retailer announced that it would be experiencing “its largest growth year yet.” Most of the growth is happening in the U.S., with 36 total stores planned to open …
The Retail Holiday Season is Getting Earlier, Smarter, and More Measurable
Jason Fairchild
This holiday season won’t look like the last one or the one before it. Shoppers are moving earlier, campaigns are running longer, and the pressure to prove return on investment is higher than ever. For retailers, the challenge is twofold: keep up with shifting consumer …
Ulta Beauty Launches Online Marketplace
On Tuesday, Ulta Beauty launched its new Amazon.com-style marketplace feature, UB Marketplace. Originally announced in March 2025, the marketplace, which is integrated into Ulta Beauty’s e-commerce site, has over 100 brands that were previously not carried in-store or online. UB Marketplace is designed to respond …
Loyalty Isn’t Automated: Why Human Connection Still Defines Retail CX
Robert Padron
Retailers have leaned heavily on artificial intelligence and automation to streamline operations and reduce costs. That efficiency is important, but it isn’t enough to earn and keep customer loyalty. One survey found 70 percent of consumers are willing to leave a brand after just two …
13 Warning Signs of Email Deliverability Problems Ahead
Nothing harms email marketing performance faster than having email deliverability problems. Here are 13 warning signs to watch out for, so you can catch issues before they become big problems. …
