Recent TRG blog posts

Most retailers with a credible multi channel strategy have a plan for fcommerce (ecommerce on Facebook) but there are important points to consider before getting carried away with all the excitement that only Facebook can engender.

"A good plan executed today is better than a perfect plan executed tomorrow." - General George S. Patton Jr.

Isn't it interesting that one of the most valuable currencies of all in modern retailing is time - yet it is never really the direct topic for discussion.

Why do we disregard one of the most significant impacts of all the elements that influence us, including our customers and our perceptions? Fundamentally, it is time that is the single greatest product that the technological revolution has produced.

At the 2011 World Retail Conference (sounding “so last year” already?) we heard speakers such as Tommy Hilfiger speak about “real” time. That is, communicating with our customers in real time - being instant, simultaneous, interactive and above all now.

So what did we do prior to this? We communicated a message to our customers based on past trends, seasonal drops and historical forecasts. All the time we were thinking, guessing and hoping we had accurately predicted what they might want or need going forward.

We based our decisions not on real time, rather on past time.

So the first conclusion is that we must use all our available communication channels to communicate with our customers. Or to quote the more eloquent Tommy Hilfiger, "It’s about keeping up with the consumer, seeing in real time with the consumer through Twitter, Facebook and My Space, then listening to what they have to say.”

"A good plan executed today is better than a perfect plan executed tomorrow." - General George S. Patton Jr.

Isn't it interesting that one of the most valuable currencies of all in modern retailing is time - yet it is never really the direct topic for discussion.

Why do we disregard one of the most significant impacts of all the elements that influence us, including our customers and our perceptions? Fundamentally, it is time that is the single greatest product that the technological revolution has produced.

At the 2011 World Retail Conference (sounding “so last year” already?) we heard speakers such as Tommy Hilfiger speak about “real” time. That is, communicating with our customers in real time - being instant, simultaneous, interactive and above all now.

So what did we do prior to this? We communicated a message to our customers based on past trends, seasonal drops and historical forecasts. All the time we were thinking, guessing and hoping we had accurately predicted what they might want or need going forward.

We based our decisions not on real time, rather on past time.

So the first conclusion is that we must use all our available communication channels to communicate with our customers. Or to quote the more eloquent Tommy Hilfiger, "It’s about keeping up with the consumer, seeing in real time with the consumer through Twitter, Facebook and My Space, then listening to what they have to say.”

Most small retail store owners know the importance of a killer window display. But why bother spending precious advertising dollars on signage inside your store?
That’s easy – your sales happen inside your store.
Foot traffic is crucial, but it doesn’t change the bottom line: your store needs sales to thrive. In-store signage can help solve a world of problems. Let’s look at three examples where attractive and organized signage can be a dealmaker.

Vietnam began to liberalize its economy in the 1980s, when the country’s leaders launched doi moi (or “renovation”). It was only after President Clinton lifted the US trade embargo in 1994, though, that multinationals began to pile in. Since then, Vietnam has taken off. In 2007, it joined the World Trade Organization (WTO)—just in time for the global financial crisis.

Most small retail store owners know the importance of a killer window display. But why bother spending precious advertising dollars on signage inside your store?
That’s easy – your sales happen inside your store.
Foot traffic is crucial, but it doesn’t change the bottom line: your store needs sales to thrive. In-store signage can help solve a world of problems. Let’s look at three examples where attractive and organized signage can be a dealmaker.

Got a great product that's all steak and no sizzle? Road ID co-founder Edward Wimmer on how to craft the killer pitch.

Curated online flash sales sites are all the rage in online retail these days. In 2011, one of the most talked-about was the elegant home decor site, One Kings Lane. Last year, long-time Shop.org member and e-commerce veteran Doug Mack was appointed to lead this niche start-up as Chief Executive Officer. With foundersSusan Feldman and Alison Pincus, this fashion and digital retail executive trifecta has led the company to draw an impressive customer base in the housewares retail vertical.

In light of their astonishing growth and as a preview to Doug’s upcoming appearance as a Super Session speaker at Retail’s BIG Show, we reached out to CEO Doug Mack for our most recent Talking With… interview. During our conversation, Mack repeatedly touched on a few key themes that apply to leading and succeeding with just about any retail business in the world: hone in on innovation, embrace design and technology, leverage your data, and optimize every aspect of the customer experience. While Doug points to some of the companies and brands that he looks to for inspiration, I can only imagine how many companies and brands already are inspired by his leadership and the near-flawless focus at One Kings Lane on website design, online merchandising and building the next game-changing lifestyle brand.

Across the globe an increasing number of Retail Pro customers are making the decision to upgrade to Retail Pro 9 and are reaping the benefits. One of the many satisfied customers is R & A Cycles. Founded in 1976, the world’s largest bicycle store based in Brooklyn, New York, quickly gained the reputation as the flagship pro bike shop for professionals and enthusiasts all over the world. It was seven years ago that R & A Cycles first chose Retail Pro as its product of choice and recently reaffirmed its commitment by moving to Retail Pro 9.