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.

“Retail Is a Permission Game” by Rich Honiball via The Robin Report

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....

“Do Shoppers Want to Be Left Alone in Stores?” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog

by admin | Sep 27, 2026 | Brick & Mortar, Customer Experience, Customer Loyalty, Opinion, Resources, Retail Strategy, Sales Training

No. Shoppers want to be left alone by an associate who opens with “Can I help you find anything?” They welcome one who earns their trust in order: a greeting, a personal connection, then one question about what brought them in. Skip those steps and you get...

“Why Are Stores Closing Fitting Rooms?” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog

by admin | Sep 12, 2026 | Brick & Mortar, Customer Experience, Opinion, Resources, Sales Training

Theft is the reason usually given. Labor is the reason that keeps surfacing underneath it. And in the most-watched case of 2026, no reason was given at all. Four companies have closed their fitting rooms in the last three years. Their stated reasons do not match, and...

“Retail Staff Management: How to Hire, Develop, and Keep a Team That Sells” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog

by admin | Aug 23, 2026 | Brick & Mortar, Customer Experience, Customer Service, HR, Opinion, Resources, Retail Strategy, Sales Training

Why is turnover so high in your stores? Why are your managers exhausted by closing time? And how do you get the same selling behavior in location 1 and location 200? Your team is your customer experience. In a punishing labor market, the retailers who win are the ones...

“Why Do Brick-and-Mortar Stores Struggle Without Sales Training?” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog

by admin | Aug 17, 2026 | Brick & Mortar, Customer Experience, News, Resources, Retail Strategy, Sales Training

Brick-and-mortar stores struggle without sales training because the purchase decision is made on the sales floor, and most associates were never taught how to influence it. In first-time mystery shops across our client base, associates score an average of 36%. They...

“The Slow Burn in Retail” by Deborah Patton via The Robin Report

by admin | Aug 8, 2026 | Artificial Intelligence / CHAT GPT, Brick & Mortar, Community, Consumer Behavior, Customer Experience, Customer Service, News

It’s summer-escape time, and we’ve all run into the addictive, slow-burn love stories typically found on epic, multi-episodic romantic streamers. You’re rooting for the intractable lead character who just needs a persistent love-washing treatment to reveal his or her...