Author: Cyrus Pari
I am a marketing professional
Agentic Commerce is Reshaping Retail … and Most Operating Models Aren’t Ready
Retailers have seen this movie before. When mobile commerce first emerged, many brands treated it as a lightweight extension of e-commerce — a smaller [...]
The Customer Optimization Gap: Why AI Won’t Fix Retail’s CX Problem on its Own
Retail enterprises have never had more tools to reach customers, and customers have never rated them lower. In June 2025, Forrester’s Global CX Index [...]
5 Questions Retail Brands Should Ask AI Research Vendors Before They Buy
Artificial intelligence has made grandiose promises to retailers’ consumer insights teams that rarely pan out: 95 percent of generative AI pilots fail [...]
7-Eleven Sues Nike Over Trademark Infringement
7-Eleven has sued Nike, accusing the company of copying the convenience store’s signature colors for its newest sneaker launch planned on July 11, kno [...]
The Art of Comfort: Faherty CEO on its Hospitality-Driven Retail Strategy
In episode 511, Total Retail Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Alex Faherty, co-founder and CEO of Faherty, a certified B Corp™ premium lif [...]
The Stocky Shutdown Exposes a Hidden Profitability Crisis for Product Brands
On August 31, Shopify is sunsetting Stocky, a free inventory tool used by over 120,000 merchants. For most sellers of physical products and goods, the [...]
AI for the Store Associate: The Key to Improving the Shopper Experience
Retailers are investing heavily in artificial intelligence to enhance customer experiences and streamline operations. Industry estimates placed the gl [...]
How AI is Ending the Era of Fragmented Shopper Marketing
For years, shopper marketing has operated as a collection of disconnected systems. Retail media, promotions, loyalty programs, digital shelf strategie [...]
Kroger to Acquire Giant Eagle in $1.65B Deal
Kroger announced Wednesday it will acquire regional supermarket chain Giant Eagle in a $1.65 billion deal, marking the grocery giant’s first major acq [...]
How AI is Creating a Polarization of Values for Today’s Consumers — and What Retailers Need to Know
As consumers increasingly turn to artificial intelligence agents for routine shopping decisions, many retailers fear AI could spark a ruthless race to [...]