Technology Is Changing How Your Customers Shop
Rick Rusch, CEO of Thought-Tech, writes a quarterly column for The Shelby Report on branding and marketing for grocers as impacted by technology, mobile, social media and consumer behavior. The current...
View ArticleCaribou Buyout Bad For A Good Brand
As the #2 coffee shop brand in the U.S. Caribou Coffee has had its ups and downs over the past twenty years. Recently it appeared things were perking up (sorry for the pun). Caribou hired their current...
View ArticleJCPenneys It’s No Secret Ad Whiffs
We’ve been critical of JCPenney since Ron Johnson became CEO. Of particular concern was (and still is) the merchandising. Regardless of what anyone tells you – product is the epicenter of any brand’s...
View Article3 Trends Holding Retailers Down
Retailers are facing another challenging year. Factors such as a weak economy, weather and intense competition make for difficult odds. Toss a general lack of creativity, mis-guided marketing and...
View ArticleBangladesh Factory Fire Puts Brands At Risk
Global clothing brands involved in Bangladesh’s troubled garment industry responded in different ways to the building collapse that killed more than 600 people. Some quickly acknowledged their links...
View ArticleAbercrombie and Fitch Knows Who They Are Selling To
Abercrombie and Fitch has been in the news quite a lot lately. Much of the exposure could be perceived as negative – or is it? First, the hoopla stems from an interview CEO Mike Jeffries gave to Salon...
View ArticleQuality and Service – The Keys to Success
The neighborhood dry cleaners I use is a fine example of a well-run business. The proprietors, a husband and wife team, exemplify the best of entrepreneurship. First, prices are competitive. Dry...
View ArticleTea Pot Resembling Hitler Brews Trouble for JCPenney
Just when the gang at JCPenney thought things couldn’t get any worse…well, something like this has to come along. Trouble is brewing for the retailer after customers noted that one of its tea kettles...
View ArticleBest Buy’s Windows Stores Won’t Work
Best Buy has been struggling for footing in an omni-channel world. The past 18 months have been tumultuous to say the least. But the stakes could never be higher for this holiday season. It’s do-or-die...
View ArticleThe Sh*t Lululemon’s Customers Say
Lululemon Athletica the Canadian-based brand of pricey yoga and workout wear has had a rough last few months. First, the company pulled its entire inventory of yoga pants off the shelves when it was...
View ArticleHow Do We Sell On Social Media?
Overall usage on social media platforms is exploding. Millions of consumers are expressing likes on Facebook, tweeting about products on Twitter, and pinning on Pinterest every single day. In the U.S....
View ArticleBuyer Beware – Reviews Are Often Bogus
eCommerce has never been a bigger player in a brand’s selling channels. People are spending, and continuing to spend, more and more online. Every year, Cyber Monday beats out the previous one. Mobile...
View ArticleAmazon Resistant Retailers See Bright Future
Two worlds of retail are emerging. One group of retailers outperformed the S&P 500 by 23% over the last 22 months, while a second group lagged badly behind, beating the S&P by a mere 9% during...
View ArticleJCPenny Captain Needs Time to Right the Ship
File this under ‘WTF’. JCPenney is defending itself against charges by activist investor Bill Ackman that it’s not moving fast enough to hire a full-time CEO. Ackman demands JCP remedy a situation...
View ArticleME = Mobile and Ecommerce Buying
As the retail world staggers past the downturn, every so often there’s a bright spot or two. We see a trend in retail we’re calling ‘ME Buying’. Mobile and Ecommerce are on a tear that cannot be...
View ArticleDumb Ad of the Year
Standing out in today’s omni-channel world is difficult. Especially if you’re a small business with just a few locations spread out over three geographically distinct states. Your competitors include...
View ArticleDuck Dynasty’s Merchandising Dynasty
America loves family, faith, rednecks and ducks, a lot more than our politicians seem to give us credit for A staggering 11.8 million viewers tuned in to watch the premiere of the fourth season of the...
View ArticleMade In The USA – The Slow Comeback
Over the weekend Parade Magazine, the print micro-mag stuffed inside newspapers (you remember newspapers, right?), featured the article, “ Putting America Back to Work: 5 Ways ‘Made In The USA’ Is...
View ArticleDrunk Bicyclists Could Be The Next Menace To Society
With all the emphasis on reducing automobile accidents caused by impaired, read not-sober, driving – there’s a trend of businesses combining bicycling and beer. Take a look at these examples: Flywheel...
View ArticleJC Penney Dumps Martha
It appears retailer JCPenney has come to its senses, found its bottom and is looking to move on from the Ron Johnson era. JCP will terminate its controversial partnership with Martha Stewart. The...
View Article
More Pages to Explore .....