Below you will find helpful and relevant articles that we carefully curate for the benefit of our B.R.A. Retail Members almost every day. Be sure to scroll through the most recent article or use the Search/Lookup feature to find topics and keywords related to articles that may help you to lower costs, increase margins or create more remarkable customer experiences.
by admin | Nov 1, 2026 | Brick & Mortar, Customer Experience, Holiday, HR, Opinion, Resources, Retail Strategy, Sales Training, Staffing
Hire now, hire more people than you think you need, and make it easy to say yes. Put the hourly rate in the ad, let applicants apply from their phone, interview on past behavior, hand every hire a signed six-week schedule, and give one person the job of training them...
by admin | Oct 28, 2026 | Apparel /Fashion, Brick & Mortar, Community, Customer Experience, News, Opinion, Retail Strategy, Sales Training
Going to the store is a quick trip for most consumers. For the 15 to 20 percent of the population who are neurodivergent, it can be an entirely different experience. From fluorescent lighting and loud music to confusing layouts and forced social interactions, many...
by admin | Oct 25, 2026 | Brick & Mortar, Community, Legends, News
B.C. Surf & Sport owner Bruce Cromartie and son, Connor, regional manager and buyer. Bruce’s other sons, Cameron and Christian, also work in the family business. Photo by SESO. B.C. Surf & Sport’s new Fort Lauderdale store is smaller and gives...
by admin | Oct 21, 2026 | Competitions, News, Olympics, Snowboard
Kai Jones will be a member of the 2026-2027 U.S. Freeride Team. Photo: Le Bent U.S. Ski and Snowboard has announced its 2026-2027 Freeride roster — the first team since the International Olympic Committee approved freeride for the Alpes 2030 Olympic Games. The first...
by admin | Oct 18, 2026 | Brick & Mortar, Customer Experience, Customer Loyalty, Customer Service, News, Opinion, Resources, Retail Strategy, Sales Training
When a customer says “we’ll have to look around,” give them back three reasons they already gave you, then stop talking. That’s the whole technique, and the stopping is the part most salespeople can’t do. Say you’re closing a...
by admin | Oct 15, 2026 | Brick & Mortar, Clearance Sales / Discounting, Consumer Behavior, Customer Service, News, Opinion, Predictions, Retail Economy, Retail Strategy
In my work with retail leadership teams and in conversations with board members, I keep hearing versions of the same concern. The consumer is behaving differently, but too many companies are responding as though this is simply another affordability cycle. It is not....
by admin | Oct 12, 2026 | Legends, News, Rest In Peace, Surf
Larry Bertlemann was as capable on a concrete bank as he was on a shoulder-high right. As one of the first surfers to truly blur the lines between skateboarding and surfing, Larry opened the door for his fellow Hawaiians when it came to cross-pollination between the...
by admin | Oct 9, 2026 | Brick & Mortar, Customer Experience, Opinion, Resources, Retail Strategy
You don’t need a budget. You need a deadline, a theme, and what’s already in your stockroom. I watched teams of store designers prove it at the IRDC convention’s Iron Merchant competition – one hour, a white mannequin, a roll of toilet paper,...
by admin | Oct 6, 2026 | Brick & Mortar, Customer Experience, News, Opinion, Resources, Retail Strategy
There is a competitor retailers rarely put on the competitive map. It isn’t Walmart, Amazon, Temu, or the retailer across the street. It isn’t even another brand. It is nothing. Don’t buy another sweater. Keep the television another year. Skip the furniture upgrade....
by admin | Oct 3, 2026 | Accounting and Business Services, Brick & Mortar, Data Driven Performance, Resources, Retail Strategy, Staffing
screenshot of Doug Works, Executive Director of BRA, and Dan Jablons, President of Retail Smart Guys Did you know that there are three small tweaks (just a 2% change) that you can make to significantly increase your bottom line? Watch this relevant and helpful webinar...
