Retail today continues to change at lightning speed, and technology is helping leaders to rewrite all the rules. Taking into account shifting consumer expectations and an unrelenting flood of data, a single digital core is essential to executing a winning consumer experience strategy (no matter where or how they shop), which is the key to driving future growth and market share. As more consumers browse, buy and socialize online, having a complete omnichannel presence merely gives retailers the opportunity to compete – the retailers that want …
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Overcoming the Execution Gap in Retail’s New Normal
Retailers are currently facing an unprecedented renaissance, with winners and losers being redefined on a near-daily basis. In the last year, we have seen: HelloFresh, Blue Apron, and Gousto strike gold in underserved categories Amazon and Whole Foods marry the digital and physical world of commerce Nike establish itself as the paragon of disrupting traditional segment roles J.C. Penney and Sephora re-innovate the value of expanded store partnerships While these stories are markedly different from one another, there are a few …
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The Future of Retail Revolves Around a Digital Core
To meet growing consumer expectations and remain competitive in retail’s evolving industry, it is essential to establish a strong digital core and leverage the benefits this provides: understanding motives behind consumer purchases, creating personalized shopping experiences, offering innovative delivery services, and more. In the current dynamic digital landscape, the retailers that are redefining their business models, embracing the “new normal,” and putting technology at the heart of their strategies are the ones making positive waves. A …
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Pay Attention Retailers: Your Online and Offline Conversion Rates are Converging
In retail’s new normal, the convergence of digital and physical is prevalent throughout the industry. From trends of smaller-format stores incorporating more digital components and carrying less inventory, to hyper-personalization, the retail landscape is continuing to evolve. Now is the time for an overhaul on the way retailers measure conversion rates. There is a misbelief that conversion rates only answer the question, “Did someone go on my website and buy something?” – but they go far beyond that. Conversion rates are an overall measure …
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Retail’s New Normal: What to Expect in 2018
Retail’s new normal has arrived. We’re in the depths of disruption and intense competition, and while many have pegged it as the “retail apocalypse,” that thesis has been debunked. Retail is simply going through a period of disruption and change similar to a renaissance – not an apocalypse – as I explained in a recent article on Robin Report. In essence, retail’s death has been greatly exaggerated. While the number of retailers closing shop in 2017 seems shocking, store closings aren’t unique to 2017. Forrester reports that in 2016, 2,000 …
Gatekeepers to Your Success: The 21st Century Consumer
It’s almost like a broken record. Everywhere I turn, from industry gurus and analysts, to on-screen financial personalities, they repeat the mantra “focus on the customer.” But why is it so important that retailers take that advice? Why now, and what does that mean for your organization and strategy? As I reflect on the many advances in the technology that is powering retail, I am more certain than ever that a retailer’s future relevance lies squarely in the hands of consumers. Gatekeepers to Your Success No two ways about it, consumers are …
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It’s Not an Apocalypse It’s a Renaissance
We’re facing a peculiar time for retailers. As institutions like Macy’s and Ralph Lauren are continuing to close their brick-and-mortar stores, many have pegged this as the “Retail Apocalypse” and point to Amazon and e-commerce as the culprits. However, it can’t be the end of retail, considering discount retailers like TJ Maxx and fast-fashion stores like Zara are on the rise with new store openings. Retail is going through a period of disruption and change akin to a renaissance not an apocalypse. Retailers are reawakening to the ideals of …
Retail Meets Culture: How Product “Holidays” Can Be Leveraged
This summer, Amazon celebrated its third annual “Prime Day” by offering 30 hours of sales on more than 100,000 products on its sites worldwide. It declared a brand day on the calendar as if it were a holiday, which is an increasingly popular marketing trend. There are many examples, from “National Rum Day” and “National Coffee Day” to all of August being declared “National Back-to-School Month.” With the rise of social media and our sharing culture, the number of “holidays” is likely to continue to grow. With so many holidays to choose from, …
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