Results Count ... everything else is conversation.

Forget cool … what else do your clothes do?

Whatever happened to clothes that were just clothes? 

In our posts we have mentioned it many times … Differentiate or Die!  This law of the jungle is not only true for retailers, but for retail products.  In this competitive world there seems to be a mad rush for line extensions that add features way beyond the product itself.  Some would argue that in this busy world we are searching for versatility.  But do you really want clothes that talk to you, or wear leggings with caffeine to slim your thighs?  

#1 Question: What is Apple’s Secret Sauce?

Inquiring minds want to know how Apple stores do it?

One of the most popular sections in IMS Retail University is a review of retail channels and what it takes to differentiate in order to survive.  After our most recent Retail U workshop the #1 question was what makes Apple so good?  How do Apple stores manage to sell more $ per sq. ft. than a Tiffany’s jewelry store?  The answers lie in the old maxim that “retail is detail” … and no one is executing better right now than Apple.

ROI – Obsession or psychosis?

Proxy metrics vs. measurement design required for ROI    

It’s a tough world out there in this economy.  In order to compete on more than price, companies are trying to differentiate by investing in customer service.  Retailers are spending more on everything from hiring and training better sales people, to using social media to enhance service and follow-up.  Do investments in customer service yield a better ROI than marketing?  The slippery slope of ROI requires more than just metrics to analyze what produces an incremental gain in sales and profit.

It’s not information overload. It’s filter failure.

If your email is overflowing … Alltop maybe your answer 

Ok, you’ve made the commitment to stay current on your industry by subscribing to newsletters, blogs and smartbriefs.  Now when your pour that first cup of coffee you cringe as you open email.  It becomes daunting to even begin drudging through 50, 100 or more emails waiting in your inbox!  How can you keep up to speed without suffering information overload?  Alltop might just be the intelligence filter you are looking for.

Will retail stores need to shrink to be profitable?

Big Box stores might not be better … or more profitable

Before the age of e-commerce, retailing became a game of scale.  Large “big box” retailers gained an advantage through broad assortments and efficient supply chains moving products to the masses.  But today, even the mighty Walmart is rapidly expanding smaller format stores in order to cut costs and enter urban markets.  In the expanding age of on-line retailing, will big box stores need to shrink to survive?