Total Retail Talks

MGM Resorts International is best known for its casinos and hotels (most of which are in Las Vegas, including The Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, among others), but within those properties the company operates retail stores. In episode 38 of Total Retail Talks, Steve Schnur, director of merchandise planning and analytics for MGM…

In episode 37 of Total Retail Talks, I interview Joy Chen, CEO of skincare brand H2O+ Beauty. Last year, H2O+ Beauty announced a brand relaunch, shifting the focus of its business from manufacturing to innovation and e-commerce; launching new product lines; introducing new channels of digital communication for its customers; and amplifying H2O+ Beauty's brand…

Earlier this month, ATGStores.com, an online retailer of home goods such as lighting and furniture, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Lowe's, announced it had partnered with Porch.com, a home services platform that connects homeowners to home improvement professionals. In episode 37 of Total Retail Talks, Michelle Newbery, president of ATGStores.com, discusses what the partnership…

Chain Reaction Cycles, the world's largest online bike retailer, recently launched an upgraded version of its commerce platform, with capabilities including adaptive targeting and real-time dynamic segmentation. In episode 36 of Total Retail Talks, Mark Lilley, head of e-commerce at Chain Reaction Cycles, talks about how the bike retailer is leveraging these new tools to…

In episode 35 of Total Retail Talks, Jeff Milbourn, director of e-commerce at Marmot, a retailer of high-quality technical apparel and equipment for outdoor enthusiasts, discusses how the brand is using personalization to enhance the online shopping experience, offers some early results into the impact the effort is having on Marmot's business, and lays out…

In episode 34 of Total Retail Talks, Kristin Burrows, president and CEO of Boston-based Second Time Around, an upscale consignment retailer of high-end apparel and accessories for women, discusses the launch of the company's e-commerce site and the impact it will have for customers and the brand.

In episode 33 of Total Retail Talks, I interview Richard Mancinelli, loyalty program manager for Advance Auto Parts. Mancinelli talks about the automotive replacement parts and accessories retailer's third annual mobile tour and the value it provides in driving brand awareness and customer loyalty.

Content marketing has become a favored way for retailers and brands to engage their customers, establish brand awareness and thought leadership, and, ultimately, help them sell more products. In episode 32 of Total Retail Talks, Lisa Dominish, director of e-commerce at Rachel Roy, discusses how the women's fashion retailer is using content as part of…

Personalizing the shopping experience for consumers in all channels is a primary initiative for omnichannel retailers. Saks Fifth Avenue is no exception. In episode 29 of Total Retail Talks, Joe Milano, senior vice president, general manager, digital retail and e-commerce for Saks, talks about how the luxury department store chain is working to give consumers…

invino, a private sale shopping community for wine lovers, wanted to use its members’ passion for the brand — and its wine — to help it recruit new members and, ultimately, customers. The online retailer worked with social commerce platform ShopSocially to embed a "Refer a Friend" app on its website, offering visitors a free…