by Jerry Thomas Distribution is often an unrecognized and under-appreciated element of strategy, yet it is almost always an important factor in a winning strategy. Distribution refers to the channels, logistics and processes to move products and services from the point of manufacture, production, or creation to the ultimate end-users. When “distribution” is linked to […]
Marketing & Management
10 Things to Know Before Pricing Products
In order to price a product correctly, it’s important to consider some factors that will help determine its value properly. Here are ten things to know before pricing a product. 1. Cost of Production No company can sell a product for a price less than the cost of its production. First, calculate how much was […]
Diversifying the All-Natural Hair, Skin and Bath Market
The inclusivity movement is growing intensely, and consumers are calling out brands that aren’t diverse enough for their tastes. Just see the backlash that the infamous Tarte Cosmetics brand received when they didn’t offer a wide variety of shades in one of their foundations in 2018. It’s putting pressure on retailers to diversify their health […]
Streamlining Private Label Product Development
Private label products are becoming more popular among consumers, especially Millennials and Gen Z. According to a study from the Private Label Manufacturers Association, the volume of private labels being sold at mass retailers, club stores and dollar stores rose 33.2 percent over the past five years, while national brands rose less than 1 percent. […]
Why Aren’t Mid-market Retailers Offering BOPIS?
Derek O’Carroll, CEO, Brightpearl If you Google “buy online pick up in store” (BOPIS), you’ll be struck by how popular in-store pickup has become with consumers. But only with the big box retailers, it seems. The first page of search results mentions Macy’s, Old Navy, Kohl’s, JCPenney, Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters, Target, and Walmart. A recent […]
The Short and Long of Retail Going Green
According to Business Insider, every year 32 billion garments are produced for the U.S. market. 64 percent of them end up in a landfill. While fast fashion is easy on shopper’s wallets, it is hard on the environment. Luckily for retailers, as more people are becoming aware of environmental issues and the impact shopping habits […]
Tapping into the $11 Billion Self-Care Industry
Self-care is any activity that we do deliberately in order to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health. The idea of self-care has been around for decades, first in the medical community, then activist communities, and now it’s permeated pop culture. Millennials in particular have popularized, and even commercialized, the concept of self-care, […]
New Study Shows Employee Experience Impacts Customer Experience
According to a new report by Sitel Group, the customer experience management company, nearly all of U.S. employees think that the employee experience affects customer experience. More particularly, employees who receive regular on-the-job training say they deliver better customer experience, customer service and overall care to clients. How you’re training your employees has more of […]
Be Nice or Bust: Studies Show Small Businesses Held to Higher Standards
by Don Campbell A University of Toronto, Scarborough, researcher has found that small businesses are held to higher customer service standards because shoppers expect them to be more friendly, honest, and helpful than large or chain stores. The research, published in the Journal of Consumer Research, looked at how company size not only affects customer […]
Warm Weather’s Impact on Shopping
Aside from the economy, weather has the biggest impact on consumer behavior, according to the British Retail Consortium. Weather directly impacts shoppers’ moods, their purchasing decisions, where consumers buy, and even how much they spend. There are obvious examples of this, like higher ice cream sales on a warm summer day, or umbrella sales during […]
