Mother’s Day, one of the biggest retail holidays of the year, is just around the corner. A total 86 percent of Americans celebrate Mother’s Day and spend an average of $180 per person. Last year, shoppers spent more than $23 billion on well-deserving moms, according to the National Retail Federation. What Shoppers are Buying for […]
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How to Create an Immersive In-Store Experience
70% of our economy is driven by consumer spending. Mark Mathews, NRF Vice President for Research Development and Industry Analysis, says “as long as you have a strong consumer, you have a strong position.” How do you create strong consumers for your store? By offering them a great experience. Jill Standish of Accenture said at […]
Brick and Mortar Purchases Account for 83% of Holiday Spending
This holiday season, mobile may have stolen the headlines, but brick and mortar stores continue to steal the sales. Online shopping during the holiday season approached $125 billion. But, according to Adobe, 83 percent of holiday shopping was done in-store. What may come as a surprise is that Millennial and Gen Z shoppers are leading […]
2019 Retail Predictions
Every year, Independent Retailer turns to the experts and asks “What’s Next?” Read on for industry expert takes on challenges retailers will face in 2019, where retailers should focus their energy, how to shake things up this year, and what to prioritize. What will be the biggest challenges retailers face in 2019? Are these […]
How to BLAST Away Customer Complaints
The holiday season is a stressful time for everyone, including shoppers and employees. It’s inevitable that every retailer will have an upset customer at some point during the holiday season. No matter what the cause of the complaint, it’s essential that retailers address and de-escalate the situation promptly so that the customer is satisfied and […]
Year in Review: A Recap of Retail in 2018 from A – Z
2018 was an exciting year for retail. Evolving technology, changing consumer preferences, and political shakeups all had a large impact on our industry. Here is Independent Retailer’s roundup of top trends, influencers, buzzwords, and developments that affected retail in 2018. Many of these topics were explored in greater detail throughout the year – those articles […]
Is Black Friday Still Important?
Last year, we asked: Should Retailers Open on Thanksgiving? This year, we take the idea a step further, and question in the grand scheme of holiday sales, is Black Friday still as important as it once was? According to the National Retail Federation, the holiday shopping season is comprised of November and December. Last year, […]
Golden Quarter Survival Guide
by Rich Kizer & Georganne Bender It’s that time of year again: The fourth quarter – the Golden Quarter – a crucial time for every retailer. The Golden Quarter is traditionally when most retailers go from being in the red to being in the black. You just can’t afford to mess up because there are […]
Hazel & Rose: a Stylishly Sustainable Boutique
“Fashion is one of the most pollutant industries in the world,” explains Emma Olson, cofounder of Hazel & Rose boutique in Minneapolis. Before Hazel & Rose opened, Emma was working in mass retail and “becoming less and less comfortable with my work.
Back to School, Back to Stores: Why School Shopping Hasn’t Gone Digital
Back to school shopping is the second biggest spending occasion, after the winter holidays. Each year, back to school and back to college shoppers spend roughly $80 billion.
