Expert Spotlight: 5 Big Ideas from my Interview with KIZER & BENDER
Georganne Bender and Rich Kizer comprise the dynamic duo that is KIZER & BENDER. As “consumer anthropologists,” KIZER & BENDER’s client list reads like a “who’s who” in retail. Internationally lauded for their no-holds barred approach, their clients rely on them for timely advice on how to wow shoppers rise to the demands of our […]
The Recipe for Successful Alternate Format Grocery Stores
In today’s rapidly changing retail landscape, it’s no wonder that one of the most basic human needs—food—is undergoing the biggest transformation. Traditional grocery is at the heart of the changes. Since 1988 it has seen its market share shrink from 90 percent to 44 percent. A couple of key points underpin this shift, namely the […]
Retail Store Heat Mapping: Hot or Not?
Store heat maps can be an enormous help when it comes to understanding the functionality of your stores and how customers behave inside them. But what is a heat map really? At its most basic, ‘heat map’ is just a hipper way of saying ‘a shaded matrix where single values in a matrix are represented […]
5 Ways to Increase Conversion in Retail & Prevent Store Walkaways
As a retailer, there’s nothing more heartbreaking than to see a seemingly interested customer turn around and walk out the door. Most of the time, you won’t even know why it happened. But identifying the small factors that are steadily eating away at your conversion rate can help you ensure that it doesn’t keep happening. […]
The Secret to Localizing Assortment the Easy (CB4) Way
Localizing their assortment is mission-critical to today’s best retailers. Assortment localization, i.e. tailoring a store’s assortment to reflect the demand of the community it serves, has both tangible and intangible benefits. According to a report from Retail Systems Research (RSR), “Merchandising and Pricing 2018,” 59% of retail’s top performing chains say localized assortments are “very […]
How to Energize Your Retail Workforce
Anyone who’s ever worked in retail will tell you there’s a disconnect between store personnel and corporate retail teams. To customers, this might look like a retail employee engagement problem. Part of the challenge is employee turnover. According to a study by global consulting firm Korn Ferry, 29% of retail HR teams reported an increase […]
6 Ways to Enhance Your Retail Hiring and Onboarding Processes
The performance of your retail business largely depends on your staff. Yes, great systems and technologies are essential, but it’s the people who work in your store who will ultimately connect with your customers and drive sales. That’s why it’s not enough to hire the right individuals; you also need to train them properly. While […]
5 Ways Lululemon Dominates the World of Athleisure
Lululemon debuted just two decades ago with a single pair of yoga pants. Now the athleisure behemoth is a bona fide lifestyle brand with an envy-provoking retail strategy, opening stores and launching new product lines at a frenzied clip. The Vancouver, Canada-based global activewear empire, which first attracted a cult following for its $100 yoga […]
A Peek Inside Whole Foods’ New C-Store & Takeaways for Grocers
Whole Foods is testing a new c-store concept. But Whole Foods Daily Shop, nestled alongside one of the grocer’s New York City supermarkets, is stocked with more than your average c-store fare. The c-store promises to have big implications for the future of Whole Foods and food retail at large. Here are 5 big insights […]
3 Ways Fashion Retailers are Using AI for Operational Efficiency
Today’s apparel retailers can choose from unending menu of high-tech offerings promising to transform their business. But not all technological tools–particularly those calling themselves artificial intelligence (i.e. fashion AI)–are created equal. In fact, after the 2019 NRF Big Show, the LA Times boldly announced that retailers are wasting their time on tech that looks exciting, yet doesn’t […]
