The Very Hungry Carter-pillar: How Carter’s Ate Up the Competition
Kids’ apparel has been a tricky vertical to nail for many retailers. Previously successful brands such as Babies R Us, Gymboree, and Crazy 8 have failed to stay afloat, and some that have survived—like The Children’s Place—are shuttering stores. But despite the turbulence in the category, one company seems to be holding steady year after […]
Conscious Capitalism: Retailers Reaping the Benefits?
The concept of conscious capitalism was born in retail—co-created by John Mackey, one of the founders of Whole Foods. Arriving on the scene in 2013, the central tenet of conscious capitalism is that businesses should benefit the world around them, not just its traditional stakeholders (i.e. stockholders, board members, lenders, etc.). Businesses committed to conscious […]
Results Not Reports. Why Store Managers Love CB4.
AI is the Lebron James of retail. Both arrived with incredible hype and went on to deliver on sky-high expectations. Retailers are using AI everywhere, from supply chain optimization to shopper analytics. However, after countless conversations with retail operations leaders, we’ve found that most won’t adopt AI (or any new solution) for stores unless they’re […]
5 Strategies for Victoria’s Secret in 2020
Victoria’s Secret has been in a downward spiral for a hot retail minute now. The brand has faced not one but several PR crises of late and is failing to resonate with consumers amidst the emergence of new competitors better aligned with consumers’ shifting values. According to Seeking Alpha, the brand’s “protracted slump” is responsible for […]
3 Most Common Ways Stores Frustrate Mission-Driven Shoppers
It’s not easy to increase store conversion with certain shoppers. The browsers. The showroomers. The price averse. They don’t walk in intending to buy, so there’s not much that you as a merchant can do to prevent them from leaving empty-handed. But how can you increase store conversion for mission-driven shoppers—i.e. those who walk in […]
Expert Spotlight: 6 Big Ideas from my Interview with Neil Saunders
If you follow retail, you’ve followed the work of Neil Saunders. He’s the media’s go-to expert for all things retail, and his insights have been published in the likes of Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and on CNN, NBC News, and more. No wonder Neil Saunders is widely considered one of retail’s most influential […]
Year in Review: Most Epic Retail Collaborations of 2019
As brands vie for relevance in this rapidly-changing retail climate, they are discovering a key to success: forming collaborations to stay competitive. The best brand partnerships allow businesses to leverage each other’s strengths to reach more consumers and drive sales. Furthermore, such alliances help each retailer reap more insight into new markets and demographics. According […]
C-Store Rebranding in 2019: Chains Weigh Opportunities and Risks
The signs, they are a changin’. So are the coffees, the burritos and the fuel brands. Convenience stores are in the midst of an overhaul as chains absorb brands large and small. The end result: a cohesive national strategy. The opportunities for synergy certainly are there—but so are the risks of removing loyalty from the […]
The Anatomy of a Winning Pop-Up Shop
They’ve been fleeting fixtures on streets and in shopping centers for a while, but pop-up shops are here to stay. In fact, the strategy for pop-up shop success has evolved beyond its original goal of generating buzz and sales. Though they still boost revenue, these concepts now primarily help retailers test and improve upon on […]
Thoughts on GameStop by Someone Who Loved GameStop
I’m 33 and I play videogames. That shouldn’t be a surprise, as the average age of video game players in the United States continues to rise (38% of players are now over 36 years old). What was once looked down on as a dorky pastime has become a nationally-televised sport, sponsored by brands like Coca-Cola, […]
