Opinion
The latest opinion pieces by industry thought leaders
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How COVID-19 prompted new thinking for omnichannel
Accelerated investments in 2020 redefined omnichannel, writes Amanda Bourlier, head of retail at Euromonitor International.
Amanda Bourlier • Dec. 18, 2020 -
Predictions to help navigate the 2020 holiday shopping season
Future holiday shopping seasons will likely have more in common with 2020 than with 2019, writes Euromonitor International's Amanda Bourlier.
Amanda Bourlier • Nov. 23, 2020 -
Top customer service considerations for retailers in a post-COVID world
The customer experience is one of the most critical touchpoints a retailer has with its customers, writes 7-Eleven's Jerry Campbell.
Jerry Campbell • July 30, 2020 -
5 ways beauty brands can grow faster online
Beauty sales were already moving online, but the pandemic has accelerated that trend, writes Sandy Skrovan, industry research director at Profitero.
Sandy Skrovan • July 22, 2020 -
What will bring consumers back to brick-and-mortar stores?
Post-pandemic, the retailers that reopen without making major changes to how they do business could lose out, writes Consumers in Motion's Daniel Hodges.
Daniel Hodges • May 28, 2020 -
Survival of the fittest for DTC brands
Before the current crisis hit, we were already seeing flaws in the DTC model, writes Alex Song, CEO of Innovation Department.
Alex Song • May 14, 2020 -
"Empty Paper Goods Shelves at Walgreens at Union Station Shopping Mall at 50 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Washington DC on Thursday morning,19 March 2020" by Elvert Barnes Photography is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
COVID-19: The ultimate stress test for retailers
The novel coronavirus is the latest reminder that companies need to plan and prepare for the unexpected, writes Gartner's Kelsie Marian.
Kelsie Marian • April 09, 2020 -
How the youth brand Supreme became a modern-day meme
The streetwear brand has shifted from conventional notions of what a brand should be, and others should take note, write Temple University's Jay Sinha and Kunal Duggal.
Jay Sinha and Kunal Duggal • March 18, 2020 -
5 predictions for the future of retail
Emerging technologies continue to drive digital disruption and customer experience is fast becoming the new currency, writes Gartner's Robert Hetu.
Robert Hetu • Jan. 09, 2020 -
'Tis the season to return things. But it doesn't have to be
E-commerce product returns have a harmful impact on the environment and business margins. ThreeKit President Joachim Klein asks why retailers aren't trying harder to prevent them.
Joachim Klein • Jan. 03, 2020 -
A 2020 guide to smart discounting
Polly Wong, managing partner at Belardi Wong, offers tips for crafting customer offers while avoiding discount fatigue and harm to the bottom line.
Polly Wong • Dec. 23, 2019 -
Compliance tips for exporting to Mexico
Retailers in the NAFTA region have benefited from the agreement for decades, but rules of origin and audits complicate compliance, writes Foley & Lardner's Marcos Carrasco-Menchaca.
Marcos Carrasco-Menchaca • Nov. 08, 2019 -
5 reasons catalogs are making a comeback with DTC brands
DTC brands are turning to catalogs to play a vital role in their growth beyond Facebook and Instagram, writes Measured's Trevor Testwuide.
Trevor Testwuide • Nov. 06, 2019 -
How the $160B gift card market can catch up to the modern age of retail
Retailers risk losing revenue and customers unless they upgrade the gift card experience, writes Loop Commerce CEO and co-founder Roy Erez.
Roy Erez • Oct. 25, 2019 -
The 5 biggest DTC trends of 2019
The shift to direct to consumer isn't expected to slow anytime soon, writes Innovation Department founder Alex Song.
Alex Song • Oct. 10, 2019 -
Black Friday: Influencer marketing tips to add to your shopping list
Work early, partner with influencers you trust and focus on the right kind of content, Magda Houalla, head of brand strategy at AspireIQ, writes.
Magda Houalla • Oct. 02, 2019 -
There's a farm in my grocery store: The new rules of retail engagement
All retailers are in a very tight spot right now — grocery stores offer many obvious proof points, writes The Hershey Experience's Suzanne Jones.
Suzanne Jones • Sept. 19, 2019 -
Balancing 'safe' and 'welcoming' in the era of mass shootings
Being prepared today can save lives — as well as significant business costs — tomorrow, writes Vice President of Pinkerton, Jason Porter.
Jason Porter • Sept. 12, 2019 -
From traditionalists to Gen Z: Managing a multigenerational retail workforce
It can be difficult for retail managers to navigate the societal and generational differences in today's labor force, writes Fisher Phillips' Lauren C. Tompkins.
Lauren C. Tompkins • Sept. 05, 2019 -
How shopping centers can use design to build a better experience
Successful retail centers offer entertainment, shopping and dining, and a sense of authentic placemaking, writes Alamo Architects' Billy Lawrence.
Billy Lawrence • Aug. 15, 2019 -
Why retailers need to revisit their real estate strategies
The longstanding formula for ramping up real estate needs an update, write A&G Realty Partners' Peter Lynch and Jon Graub.
Jon Graub and Peter Lynch • Aug. 08, 2019 -
Independent toy stores are using experiences to attract customers
Local retailers are stepping up to shape the toy industry, writes Kimberly Mosley, president of the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association.
Kimberly Mosley • Aug. 01, 2019 -
Big tech's hidden DNA hates competition
While the internet gives us much to celebrate, disturbing trends that erode free-market competition are emerging, writes RILA's Brian Dodge.
Brian Dodge • July 30, 2019 -
The apparel industry has to get faster, leaner and meaner
Results in the sector have been pretty dismal, and retailers need to shake things up, writes RSR Research's Paula Rosenblum.
Paula Rosenblum • July 25, 2019 -
Why M&A deal values dropped so dramatically in 2018
Legacy players are under attack, and incumbents are starting to reexamine portfolios, write A.T. Kearney's Bahige El-Rayes and Alexandre Terseleer.
Bahige El-Rayes and Alexandre Terseleer • July 18, 2019