Pandemic restrictions across the nation continue to lighten up as more COVID-19 vaccinations get administered to residents. Limitations such as indoor capacities, mask requirements, and even social distancing are being lifted, while frequently disinfecting surfaces remains paramount. Statistics as of the end of April revealed that over 216 million total vaccines have been administered to […]
Retail News
State Regulations for In-Store Shopping
Updated 5/4/2021 As the COVID vaccines continue to make their way throughout the U.S., guidelines including mandatory facial coverings and indoor capacity limits are lightening up. If things keep going this way and we do not have another outbreak, retailers can soon expect the normal shopping patterns. In fact, a Sage study found nearly three-quarters […]
Theme Parks Revitalize In-Store Experiences
by Bill Coan The pandemic has shaken up the retail and ecommerce arenas, with much of consumer spending shifting to the latter. It has forced a rethinking of how stores can reconnect with shoppers. In-store experiences are one way brick-and-mortar retailers can stay relevant in the face of ecommerce, which is estimated to have grown […]
How Data Analytics is Impacting Retail in 2021
by Shannon Flynn The COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the biggest influences on retail in recent history. It has changed the way consumers shop and interact with companies, which means retailers are stepping up their game to meet these rapid changes. Data analytics is a modern solution to the recent setbacks in the retail […]
The 2021 Consumer Culture Report
Last year brought many unexpected challenges for both retailers and consumers alike. Shopping patterns drastically changed, most likely for the long run, as well as the products that customers were looking for and needed. Amid all of these changes and uncertainty, it is vital for indie retailers to understand the changes in consumer behavior due […]
Customer Experience in the Age of Big Data
by Kevin Grauman We live in an era of unprecedented data, where a consumer’s every action sets off a ripple of digital data. Strings of algorithms interpret this data to create consumer profiles, and companies use these robust data representations to target products and content with great effect. According to a McKinsey study, around 35 […]
Lessons from Valentine’s Day 2021
By John Grech, Head of Retail Partnerships at Loop Commerce Valentine’s Day this year looked a lot different than 2020. Yet, in many ways, this year’s holiday possessed a level of normalcy for gifting. Many retailers tweaked their playbooks over the last 365 days to meet the influx of digital and curbside shopping demands. Mother’s […]
Shipping Carriers Prohibiting the Shipment of Vaping Products Throughout the U.S.
As part of the “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021,” in the most recent COVID-19 relief bill signed into law on December 27, 2020, Congress amended the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (“PACT”) Act of 2009 to apply to e-cigarettes and all vaping products. While the bill only covers the USPS, the passage of PACT triggered all major […]
Strategically Grow Your Private Label with Science-Based Pricing and Promotions
by Cheryl Sullivan Independent retailers have struggled against proliferating online and brick-and-mortar competition for years. The pandemic only heightened the unpredictability of the fast-changing customer, competitor and shopper behaviors, as well as supply chain disruptions. The Imperative for Science-Driven Pricing and Promotions Fortunately, indie retailers continue to adopt science-based lifecycle pricing (which includes prices, promotions […]
NorthShoreShops.com Provides a Lifeline for Small Businesses
NorthShoreShops.com (northshoreshops.com), a Virtual Shopping District, is changing how consumers shop locally by hosting the inventory of small businesses on the North Shore of Chicago all on one website. Launched by Tacklebox Brand Partners, shoppers can easily browse all of the local stores on one website without ever leaving their home. Browse Local-Area Merchants Online […]
