by Paul Brenner Virtual shopping hit record highs during the pandemic, but as vaccination distribution increases and COVID-19 cases decline, consumers are starting to return to their favorite brick-and-mortar stores. Ninety-four percent of all industry sales today occur in a physical retail setting. While ecommerce remains a popular shopping channel, shoppers seek varied interactions with […]
brick and mortar
Strategizing the Future of Brick-and-Mortar Retail
by Charlie Meyer It might be the understatement of the century to say that market conditions have not been ideal or kind to many businesses over the past two years. Brick-and-mortar retail faced some of the harshest conditions in recent memory, and with so many bankruptcies and closures, some wonder whether there is a future […]
Brick-and-Mortar Sales Grew Faster Than Ecommerce in 2021
The U.S. Department of Commerce Retail Indicator Division released the December 2021 Monthly Retail Trade Report on Wednesday February 16th, which showed that brick-and-mortar stores grew faster than ecommerce for the first time ever. Last year, physical storefronts grew 19 percent, compared to ecommerce, which grew 14 percent. In-Person Shopping Around for the Long Haul […]
Make Your Store Blossom with These Spring Decorating Tips
Whether or not you rely on Groundhog Day to tell you how many more weeks of winter you have to endure, Independent Retailer is already celebrating spring! With the holidays over, cold weather in full effect, and everyone starting to make summer vacation plans, it is about time indie retailers start getting their shoppers excited […]
Presented by T-Mobile
The easiest way retailers can grow their business is by bringing a better connection to your hometown. Your business is already vital to your community, providing it the products and services it needs. By becoming an authorized retailer at T-Mobile, you will sell their wireless plans and devices—generating even more traffic and potential for your […]
Tips on How to Handle Inflation Pricing
With out-of-stock warnings on the rise and consumer demand overwhelming supply chains, retailers everywhere are facing inflationary pricing. In order to maintain their margins, retailers must decide the best ways to deal with the rising costs of goods without dumping it all on the customers and risking their loyalty. Price Increases Across the Board “At […]
Eye-Catching holiday Display Tips
The season of gift-giving is approaching, and pretty soon consumers will be looking inside retailers’ brick-and-mortar window displays with glistening eyes, thinking of that special someone while looking at your products. In order to ensure that passers-by stop at your store, Independent Retailer has some holiday display tips to get them excited to come inside. […]
Introducing Digital Neighborhoods in the Age of Retail
by Derek O’Carroll During the pandemic, retail had to migrate solely online — and with this seismic shift, shopper expectations have permanently changed. A smooth transaction and quick delivery is no longer a perk for customers and is simply the baseline expectation. Consumers everywhere now seek a rewarding and enjoyable online shopping experience: one to […]
Perfecting Customer Experience for Post-Pandemic Retail
Many consumers got comfortable with online shopping during the pandemic, engaging with brands and other shoppers in a virtual sense, but nothing beats the authenticity of in-store experiences. Tango, a leader in Store Lifecycle Management (SLM) solutions, conducted a consumer survey which found that 85 percent of Americans cannot wait to get back to in-store […]
Positive Changes to State Regulations
Statistics as of the end of June revealed that over 311 million total vaccines have been administered to Americans, and that number continues to climb each day. As more residents get vaccinated, additional states are beginning to lift their COVID-19 restrictions to match the CDC’s current guidelines regarding face masks and social distancing for fully […]