3 Ways Retailers Are Getting More Done, Faster With CB4’s New Messaging Feature
Good communication in retail—so important, but so hard. When it comes to communication, the odds are stacked against retailers. That’s because store teams are remote and usually (if they’re doing their job well) not in front of a computer. The bigger the chain and the more product you sell, the more complex it all gets—the […]
The Rise (and Fall) of QR Codes in Retail: Is it Time for a Comeback?
In the ever-changing retail landscape, QR codes (or quick response codes) have become something of a permanent fixture. These square-shaped black-and-white displays are found on a dizzying array of product labels. A QR code is actually a matrix-style bar code that can cram more data in a smaller space than a conventional linear barcode. When […]
Retail’s Reopening Numbers: The Truth Behind the Headlines
On June 16th, a Wall Street Journal headline announced, “U.S. Retail Sales Rose Record 18% in May.” The article, based on data from the Commerce Department, describes how retail sales—including purchases at stores, restaurants, and online—increased by 17.7% in May from the previous month. In it, Craig Johnson, president of retail consulting firm Customer Growth […]
3 Realizations on the E-Commerce Shopping Experience in COVID
The coronavirus outbreak isn’t my first foray into the e-commerce shopping experience. My Amazon account dates back to 2006. Online purchases have been a mainstay through most of my adult life. That said, I have always been a brick-and-mortar person. I worked as a store manager in NYC for over a decade, and now work […]
Retailers Form 3 Unconventional Partnerships to Beat Coronavirus
In a recent op-ed for CNN, Marcelo Gleiser, 2019 Templeton Prize Laureate and Natural Philosopher at Dartmouth College declared that Covid-19 will change us as a species. Most of us are facing the first major global crisis in our lifetime. Likening the war against the virus to the world wars our parents and grandparents witnessed, […]
How Retailers Are Responding to COVID-19: A Timeline
Coronavirus has hit the world—and the retail industry—hard. Some retailers are grappling with empty stores. Others with empty shelves. Some are just trying to stay afloat. All strive to serve their customers, the workforce, and their communities. As a partner to many in the retail industry, we’re gathering and sharing stories of how retailers are […]
How Retail is Readying for a Post-Pandemic Rebound
While the so-called “retail apocalypse” turned out to be a big ol’ bust, recent times haven’t taken it easy on brick-and-mortar retail. Business consultants and retail strategists have long been calling retailers’ attention to the game-changing forces challenging the industry. Retailers have chosen when and where to adapt, for better or worse, doing their best […]
5 New Rules for Retailing in a Recession
Back in 2009 during the Great Recession, Harvard Business Review published a piece by Ken Favaro, Tim Romberger, and David Meer entitled “Five Rules for Retailing in a Recession.” In this article, we’ll take a look at the rules the authors laid out and see whether they stand up in today’s crises. And if they […]
5 “Wow” Moments from My Visit to Nordstrom’s New NYC Flagship
When it comes to my relationship with department stores… “it’s complicated.” As a teen, I considered my local Neiman Marcus the epitome of taste and luxury. The place I picked up my first Kate Spade bag. When I moved to Manhattan in my early twenties, I was enamored with Bloomingdales 59th St. The just-in-reach accessibility […]
Expert Spotlight: 3 Big Ideas from My Interview with The Retail Doctor
Bob Phibbs, The Retail Doctor, is an outspoken retail consultant with a massive audience. With a LinkedIn audience of 375K, Bob Phibbs is known for helping retailers create exceptional customer experiences to move merchandise. His SalesRX program is an online resource with quick and simple lessons that teach selling and people skills to store teams. […]
